Tendulkar scores record fifth World Cup hundred

Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday reached another milestone as he became the highest century-maker in World Cup history by scoring his fifth hundred in the prestigious event.

The 37-year-old Tendulkar reached the landmark during the group B clash against England when he glanced burly paceman Tim Bresnan for a boundary towards the fine leg region in the first ball of the 35th over. It was his 47th ODI century and his 98th overall.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, current Australia captain Ricky Ponting and his former teammate Mark Waugh have all scored four World Cup hundreds.

With Ganguly and Waugh retired, it is only Ponting who has a chance to match or surpass Tendulkar.

Tendulkar scored 120 runs from 115 balls and the knock was adorned with five sixes and 10 fours.

Tendulkar, playing his sixth World Cup, also holds the records for most runs and most half-centuries in the flagship event of the ICC.

He has accumulated 1944 runs in 38 matches and has scored 13 fifties so far, followed by Ponting with 1577 runs in 41 matches.

Unplugging the genius called Sachin

So much has been written about Sachin Tendulkar the cricketer and Sachin Tendulkar the human being that it’s almost impossible to come up with a novel venture.

Distinguished sportswriter Suresh Menon has found a way out, putting together a series of essays on the Little Master -- the editor himself has penned one of them -- by distinguished sportswriters and two of his former skippers.

‘Sachin -- Genius Unplugged’, a work of art and passion, was launched in the City on Wednesday afternoon, Rahul Dravid releasing the first copy and handing it over to Anil Kumble. It was in the fitness of things that the two Karnataka gentlemen, who have both played under and led Tendulkar, should be so initimately involved, not only because both have eulogised the Mumbaikar in print but also because each of them has played more than 100 Tests alongside Tendulkar.

“I haven’t had the time to read this book fully, but the wide range of writers who have contributed is a reflection of the respect Suresh has among his writing colleagues,” Dravid remarked.

“It is not easy to write about Sachin, about whom so much is already written. I am sure this book will inspire a lot of youngsters, especially young cricketers.”

Including Menon and the two former Indian skippers, 16 writers have given expression to their impressions of the 37-year-old, among them Bishan Singh Bedi, Sanjay Manjrekar, Peter Roebuck and Mike Marqusee of ‘War Minus The Shooting’ fame, with the foreword coming from Muttiah Muralitharan.

“I was fortunate to be at Old Trafford when Sachin scored his first Test century,” Kumble said of his great mate, with whom he has a wonderful relationship based on mutual respect and admiration. “Superstition is rife in cricket. I was on the dressing room balcony and Kiran More told me, `Sachin is batting well, so you better keep standing’. I stood all the while, getting a small break for tea, and I stood all along till he scored his century and the match was saved!

“I was a bit envious of Sachin -- he would just roll his arm over and bowl a perfect leg-break or a googly while I was struggling to turn the ball! It was an honour to play alongside Sachin for more than 100 Tests. For 21 years, he has played with the same passion and intensity because he still enjoys the game. That’s a good lesson for youngsters.”

Priced at Rs 599, the book will hit retail stores on February 14.

When Sachin played under Imran

Not many know, but India's batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar had played under Pakistan captain Imran Khan in 1988 - a year before he made his international debut in Pakistan.

In a book titled 'SACH,' by Gautam Bhattacharya, Tendulkar revealed that he played under Imran but as a substitute fielder during a festival match at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai.

Imran asked him to field in the deep and Tendulkar couldn't complete a catch and going back home, in the local train, constantly grumbled about the captain's field placements.

"Absolutely true. I went in as a substitute. Imran was the Pakistan captain. No words were exchanged with him. But yes, I may've got the catch if I was kept slightly ahead (laughs)," Sachin said.

The book also revealed that a year before in 1987, Sachin was selected as a promising fast bowler to train at legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee's MRF Pace Academy in Chennai, but was rejected.

"I was okay with it. In any case I was not aspiring to become a fast bowler. I thought of myself as a fast bowling all-rounder. That is precisely the reason I had carried my batting kit to Chennai. I didn't get an opportunity to bat. I did bowl for one or two sessions," Sachin said.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was also part of the camp, but Sachin doesn't remember meeting him.

"As for Sourav, I don't remember meeting him there. Later on at the national camp, I caught up with him," said Sachin.

Thank my countrymen for showing faith in my integrity: Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar feels that he can't thank his countrymen enough for the amount of faith they have showed in his integrity during his 21 illustrious years in international cricket.

In the recently released book "Sach" written by notedscribe Gautam Bhattacharya, one gets to know the rareemotional side of the maestro as he spoke on a host of issues including how the entire country supported him during the ball-tampering episode in 2001 tour of South Africa.

He also spoke about how he dealt with the ugly match-fixing episode, and the tragic 26/11 terror attack onMumbai.

Referring to episode of ball-tampering when match-referee Mike Denness handed him a one match ban on alleagtions of trying to lift the seam during a Test match at Port Elizabeth,Sachin has been quoted as saying, "But despite the incident, I was so happy for the trust and faith that the entire country expressed in me.

"At times, it has been written that a nation walked with me every time I went out to bat. Here there was no bat. Yet they showed such faith in my integrity that I was touched.

Till date I can''t forget that."

Tendulkar, who has been a picture of dignity during his long international career did admit being "shattered" with allegations levelled by Denness.

"You know, I was completely shocked and shattered when he said the charge against me was for ball tampering. I tried telling him what the truth was. That I was just cleaning the grass on the ball. I was not picking the seam. At no stage did I do that.

"If someone is trying to remove grass, how can you levyball-tampering charges against him? But the match referee would hear none of it. Since then, when ever I clean the ball,I keep the umpires posted."

When the murky episode of match-fixing rocked the nation,Tendulkar was like a picture of resilience.

When asked about his feelings during the entire fixing-saga, the holder of a world record 97 international centuries, said,"I was just doing what every Indian was supposed to do. I was just doing my duty and did not think it was any different from what I had done in the past. I was just following the same routine....

"Around that time, I received a certificate from IncomeTax department for paying my taxes honestly. That gives me alot of satisfaction. I was just hoping that my father had been alive to see it," said the man who still looks heavenwards and utters a silent prayer in the memory of his father Ramesh Tendulkar, every time he completes a ton.

Talking about the tragic 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai,Tendulkar also spoke about the pain he went through as innocent Indians lost their lives.

"We were playing at Cuttack (against England). At night we came to know about the attack. Of course, first you call home and enquire about the safety of your near and dear ones.

"Then keep glued to TV to try and find out what exactly is going on. What was happening to the nation was difficult to digest.

"I felt very sad and couldn't come to terms with it. Iwas almost numb and didn't know what had hit me. It took a while to get myself back on track. That must surely rank as one of the most disappointing days of my life," he said.