Mohali, October 17
There was no show of nerves. Nor was he fidgety during his knock as Sachin Tendulkar created history at the PCA Stadium here, emerging as the most successful batsman in the history of Test cricket during the second Test against Australia today.
During the course of his blemishless knock of 88 runs, Sachin, when he reached 15, achieved a major milestone, overtaking Brian Lara as the highest run scorer in Tests. The earlier record stood in Lara’s name, who scored 11,953 runs in Tests.
There was all-round applause when the legendary batsman steered debutant seamer Peter Siddle immediately after the tea break towards the cover fence and ran three to achieve the rare mark.
A relieved Tendulkar raised his head heavenwards, thanking the Almighty for the stupendous feat. Removing his helmet, he waved to the sparse crowd consisting mainly of schoolchildren. Then he waved towards the dressing room to acknowledge the applause from his jubilant team-mates.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was first to congratulate the maestro on achieving the remarkable feat while the rest of the players on the field rushed to shake hands with the legend.
Tendulkar meant business right from the moment he arrived at the wicket in search of the record. When facing Lee, he kept tucking his deliveries
pitched directed at the leg stump towards the square leg region to run singles and an occasional two. When faced with Mitchell Johnson, the best bowler of the day, he unleashed a fierce cover drive which caressed the fence.
When the teams broke for the tea break, the master batsman was batting on 13, two runs shy of Lara’s record. Tendulkar wasted no time and ran three off the very first ball after as the match resumed after the break to emerge the highest scorer in Tests.
Soon thereafter, Tendulkar crossed 12,000 runs in the 74th over. When he was out at 88, his total Test tally of runs stood at imposing 12,027. He now has scored Test 39 centuries and 50 fifties.
With 42 centuries and more than 16,000 runs in his kitty, Tendulkar is at the top of the heap in
one-dayers.
The PCA Stadium had earlier proved lucky for Indian skipper Anil Kumble, who achieved the rare milestone and took his 500th wicket at the venue against England in 2006.
