Tags:
Journalism of Courage
It’s been more than a year since Sachin Tendulkar boarded the slow train in Tests. The double hundred at Sydney and the Multan 194 were epics in slow motion, with on-side scoring dominant. At Wankhede, in a difficult situation, pitted against the world’s best attack, Tendulkar decided to go back to his past and relaunch himself. Here are five instances from Friday’s innings (55: 83b, 119m, 6×4, 1×6) which showed his batting blade was as sharp as ever.
THE PUNCH
Virender Sehwag has made this point so often that the punch, square off the wicket, seems to be his copyright. Tendulkar, the original master, essayed it with panache to the backward point fence when Gillespie pitched it a bit wide.
THE COVER DRIVE
In the next over came a masterstroke. Gillespie’s good length delivery outside the off-stump was driven on the up to the extra-cover boundary with minimum fuss. The placement too was strategic as it was wide of mid-off. Australia’s most fearsome bowler was being farmed. It exhibited another Tendulkar attribute, always spar with the best.
SPIN VISION
Recent memories of Tendulkar against the spinners are filled with the paddles, sweeps, nudges and late cuts. Not any more. Off the second delivery he faced from off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, Tendulkar stepped out and despatched the bowler to the cover fence.
UP, UP AND AWAY
The next ball was tossed up. Dancing down the track, Tendulkar sent it soaring; it eventually ended up on the stadium roof. The following delivery, which was fuller in length received the same treatment: A lofted shot to the long-on fence.
SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED
Michael Kasprowicz may not have got wickets but he took the honours for variation. And troubled Tendulkar the most. One shot to extra-cover would have reached the fence but for Ponting’s interception. That didn’t stop the batsman from collecting 16 runs of 37 balls bowled by Kasprowicz
— Jaideep Marar
