So the little master has turned 40. On the 15th November 1989 Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut for India against Pakistan in Karachi aged 16 years old. He faced Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir possibly one of the finest bowling attacks in history. He made 15 and was given a torrid time by the pace attack.
He made his first half-century 59 in the second test and his career was under way. In 1990 he came to England and scored his first century to save the second test a superb 119 not out at Old Trafford. His stroke play was so assured for such a young man. This is the lad though that starred in a 664 run stand in a schools match with his friend Vinod Kambli who like Tendulkar was earmarked for great things but never went on like his famous counterpart. On his first tour of Australia he hit 2 centuries in a losing series impressing a partisan crowd.
On his first tour of South Africa he hit a century in that series showing what a superstar he was. He took England apart at home in 1992-93 and now the runs were piling up almost Bradmanesque. Sri Lanka felt the weight of his blade in 1993-94 home and away and it was also the time he was promoted to open in one day internationals.
He tore the New Zealand Bowling apart in New Zealand playing proper cricket shots. He scored his first one day century 110 v Australia in the Singer triangular series in Sri Lanka the first of an incredible 49 One day centuries 19 more than his nearest rival the recently retired Ricky Ponting and of course Tendulkar hit the first one day double century vs South Africa in Gwalior. South Africa had Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell and Jaques Kallis bowling but he took them to the Cleaners.
To date he has hit 51 test centuries a remarkable achievement. His highest test score is 248 vs Bangladesh and no disrespect to the tigers i am sure he would have wished it against a better test team.
In the winter just gone he struggled against England and Australia and it looked as though his powers were on the wane.He still says he is hungry for more runs. The little man who burst on the scene wearing another little masters pads ( Sunil Gavaskar) at 16 years old is still going strong 24 years later so the test bowling attacks of the world watch out, he wants is still as badly as ever.
Source: DSG
