SUSO

NOT JUST A CATCH

Sachin Tendulkar announced himself to English cricket fans with a moment of brilliance 18 years ago.

1990, Lord’s cricket ground, home of the MCC. England vs. India. What do you think of? Eh? You what? Shut it you babbling fool. OK, so cricket isn’t for everyone, but if you’re into it then you’ll know what I’m thinking: unshaven, imposing at the crease, powerful. Yep, make no bones about it, 1990 was Graham Gooch’s year. Or was it?

We don’t write much about cricket on here - in fact we never have before - but if ever there was a day to break rank and do the unexpected it’s today; not because we’re feeling all wistful and teary-eyed about the days of giant Gooch tons, but because today Sachin Tendulkar inherited Brian Lara’s record for the most test runs ever scored. And Lord’s, 1990, England vs. India, was the moment we Brits caught our first glimpse of a shy and diminutive Indian, at 17 a Little Master in the making.

Tendulkar is one of the greatest batsmen in history, no question. Small in size, big in heart, he’s fenced off some of the most hostile attacks in history - think Ambrose and Walsh, Wasim and Waqar - but at Lord’s that year, it wasn’t his strokeplay that caught the eye (he made 10 and 27), but his fielding. In England’s second innings, a portly Alan Lamb, replete in bushy-tailed moustache, miscued Indian leg-spinner Hirwani while looking to lift him over the top. The ball went high and straight but was destined, it seemed, to land plum in the gap between deep long-on and deep long-off - where Tendulkar was placed. Setting off at a sprint while the other fielder jogged (giving up the ghost already), he barely slowed as, with the ball plummeting earthwards, he thrust out a hand at the last, as if not really believing that leather would stick to such smooth young hands.

But it did. He caught it. Lamb was out. Of course, the catch hardly mattered in the context of that match, but it marked the conception of a career that, in the context of wider sporting history, really would matter. Such moments of virtuosity just don’t happen to lesser players; they happen to players destined for greatness, players like Tendulkar. Let’s enjoy him while he lasts.

Check out this Little Master online cricket game. It's not too addictive which is great. Bet you can't beat 376...

Categories Sport Tags cricket

By on 17/10/08