There's only heartbreak for India's 100-Test veterans

November 24, 2012

shewag

Mumbai, November 24: If Virender Sehwag thought he could join the likes of Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge, Alec Stewart, Inzamam-ul Haq, Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith to become the eighth man in history to score a hundred in his 100th Test, he was mistaken.

Viru was only following the norm: No other Indian batsman who has playing his 100th Test has managed to get to three figures.

Monty Panesar, the man who got him out, earned that name because he could get the ball to spin and bounce like a python, following which his teammates christened him 'Monty Python'.

Sehwag appeared clueless against a full length delivery that turned from outside leg-stump and was bowled while playing across the line for 30. Like other Indian batsmen in their 100th Test, he too endured heartbreak.

India's 100 Test veterans have generally seen other batsmen get to three figures on their special occasion. Sunil Gavaskar was the first Indian to get there against Pakistan at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium in 1984 and he made 48 and 37. Zaheer Abbas (168) and Mohinder Amarnath (101) scored hundreds in the drawn game.

Dilip Vengsarkar was capped for the 100th time on his home ground at the Wankhede against New Zealand on a dustbowl and India suffered an embarrassing defeat with the skipper managing scores of 25 and a blob.

Krish Srikkanth was the closest anyone got to scoring a hundred as the dashing opener made 94. While Kapil Dev reached the coveted mark in Karachi, we won't analyse his 100thTest effort as he qualifies more as an all rounder.

What about Sachin Tendulkar, though? The master got to the mark at the Oval in 2002 and he looked good for a three-figure score, but his efforts were cut short at 54 as he fell LBW to Andrew Caddick. The players he saw making tons in that high-scoring draw were Michael Vaughan (195) and Rahul Dravid (217).

Dravid, like Vengsarkar, reached the 100-Test mark at the Wankhede and like the former skipper and chief selector, he was the captain of a side that lost badly. Dravid's contribution in that Test against England was 52 and 9. Andrew Strauss (128) was the gate-crasher of the Wall's party.

Barring VVS Laxman, who featured in a win over Australia, in Nagpur, in 2008, none of the batsmen playing in the 100th Test have tasted victory.

In fact, Laxman's 64 in the first innings of that Test, is the highest score by an Indian batsman playing in his 100th Test. His 100th Test saw tons from Sachin Tendulkar (109) and Simon Katich (102).

Sehwag, playing in his 100th Test has already seen Cheteshwar Pujara reach three figures from the comfort of the dressing room when he would have preferred to do the same in the heat and dust in the middle. He has a chance to do that in the second innings, though. Can Viru break the jinx?



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News Network
May 5,2020

May 5: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar says he is interested in becoming India's bowling coach if there is an offer, asserting that he is capable of grooming "more aggressive, fast and talkative" pacers.

Akhtar expressed his willingness in an interview on social networking app 'Helo'.

Asked if he would like to be associated with the Indian bowling unit in future, he responded in the positive. India's current bowling is Bharat Arun.

"I will definitely. My job is to spread knowledge. What I have learned is knowledge and I will spread it," Akhtar said.

One of the fastest bowlers to have played the game, he added, "I will produce more aggressive, fast and more talkative bowlers than the current ones who will tell-off the batsmen in a way that you will enjoy a lot."

He said he has always wanted to share his knowledge among budding cricketers and that he is looking to produce more aggressive bowlers.

He also added that he would like to "coach" IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom he has played in the cash-rich T20 league's inaugural edition.

The former pacer also spoke about his early interactions with Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar in the 1998 series.

"I had seen him but didn't know how big a name he was in India. In Chennai, I got to know that he was known as a god in India.

"Mind you, he is a very good friend of mine. In 1998, when I bowled as fast as I could, Indian public celebrated with me. I have a big fan following in India," Akhtar said.

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News Network
January 30,2020

Hamilton, Jan 30: Caught unaware about the Super Over scenario, Rohit Sharma took five minutes to “find” his abdomen guard after the third T20 International against New Zealand had ended in a tie on Wednesday.

The India vice-captain said the team had almost given up with New Zealand going great guns at one point.

“Everything was packed. All my stuff was inside my bag. I had to get it out. It literally took me five minutes to find my abdomen guard because I didn’t know where it was,” Rohit said.

“I mean we never thought it would go to the Super Over, the way they were batting at one point. It looked like they could easily win the game,” he added.

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News Network
May 9,2020

May 9: Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has donated an undisclosed amount to financially help 4,000 underprivileged people, including children from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tendulkar made the donation to the Hi5 Foundation, a non-profit organisation based out of Mumbai.

“Best wishes to team Hi5 for your efforts in supporting families of daily wage earners,” Tendulkar tweeted.

The organisation, through a tweet, thanked Tendulkar for doing his bit for the needy.

“Thanks @sachin_rt for proving once again that #sports encourages compassion! Your generous donation towards our #COVID19 fund enables us to financially aid 4000 underprivileged people, including children from @mybmc schools. Our budding sportspersons thank you, Little Master!”

The legendary batsman had earlier contributed Rs 25 lakh each to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the country’s fight against COVID-19. Tendulkar had earlier pledged to bear the cost of feeding 5,000 people for a month in a couple of areas in Mumbai.

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