M A I N   N E W S

Sachin equals Gavaskar’s record

Dhaka, December 11
Sachin Tendulkar today added another feather to his glittering cap by equalling compatriot Sunil Gavaskar’s world record of 34 Test centuries.

Tendulkar’s most awaited on-field moment came when he took a single off seamer Tapas Baishya on the second day of the first Test against Bangaldesh at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.

The 31-year-old star batsman reached the feat in 118 matches, 21 years after the legendary Gavaskar had set the record against Australia in Mumbai in 1986-87. Gavaskar had scored 103 in that match.

The Mumbai batsman’s last century came during the historic series against Pakistan in Multan early this year when he was stranded at an unbeaten 194 and his captain had declared the innings.

Before the start of this match, Tendulkar has compiled 9,595 runs for an average of 56.11 in an illustrious career spanning over 15 years.

Tendulkar has also achieved the distinction of scoring a century each against all Test playing nations, Gary Kirsten of South Africa and Steve Waugh of Australia being the other two batsmen.

In the new season, Tendulkar, ailing from an injured elbow, missed two of the four Tests against Australia at home while against in the two-Test series against South Africa he scored 3, 20 and 32 not out.

The century also marks his return to form as the star batsman had managed just one half-century — 55 against Australia in the Mumbai Test — in the last two series.

Only three batsmen have 30 or more centuries in Test history, with former Australian captain Steve Waugh tallying 32 hundreds in 168 matches.

Tendulkar’s record in the one-day arena has been equally impressive having the highest aggregate in the world with 13,431 runs at an average of 44.91 from 340 matches. He has scored 37 one-day centuries so far.

Since making his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989-90, Tendulkar has gone on to break a number of records and is now regarded as one of the best batsman in comtemporary cricket.

In his very first series against Pakistan, Tendulkar, barely 16 at that time, found his way into the record books by becoming the youngest batsman to score a Test half-century in Faisalabad.

He also became the youngest batsman to score 1,000 runs in Tests — at 19 years and 217 days — with his fourth Test century at Johannesburg in 1992-93. Apart from holding a number of records, Tendulkar has scored 1,000 runs in a calendar year as many as four times in 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2000. — PTI 

‘Turning point of my career’

Dhaka, December 11
Sachin Tendulkar, who joined Sunil Gavaskar as the leading century-maker in Test cricket, today described his record-equalling 34th century as a “turning point” of his career which he still believed was not past its prime.

The champion batsman did not agree with suggestions that he had gone past his prime and said he would continue to “hit back” at critics in this fashion.

“I don’t believe it. It is not the first time that I’ve heard such talk but I’ve hit back again and I’ll continue this way,” said Tendulkar, who was unbeaten on 159 at close on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh.

Tendulkar was elated at his feat but did not want to think about the magnitude of his achievement.

“It’s a great feeling to equal Gavaskar’s record and a great honour to get there,” Tendulkar said.

“But I don’t want to be thinking like I have scored 34 hundreds. If I do that I would rather remain home and let someone else play in my place,” he said.

Asked whether he was feeling under age as Gavaskar got to the mark at the age of 37, Tendulkar said, “I hope age does not catch up with my average.”

“I was cracking this joke in the dressing room that every time we go out to bat we have to now announce our age (on TV). So Rahul and Sourav have to say they are 31 and Kumble has to say a bit more. So I find myself okay,” he said. — PTI