Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. When he walks to the crease, a shudder runs
through the opposing team; imperceptible but definite, wary of the
coming destruction. There is that familiar feeling of powerlessness, and of
Deja Vu, as all their plans crumble before their very eyes.
The world's fastest bowler runs in and delivers a thunderbolt of a
short delivery; it is meant to intimidate Tendulkar, to rattle him a bit,
to remind him of who is in control. A step or two is taken outside
offstump, and the fiercest of square cuts is played; as the ball is
sent into the stands over backward point. The next ball is even
faster, pitched up on off and middle; designed to trap most good
batsmen in front of the wicket. Tendulkar unfurls the beautiful flick
shot; one of his own invention, and the ball is sent to the square leg
boundary with awesome power. The bowler cannot believe it, the
opposition is stunned into silence and the crowd is in raptures.
It is then that Tendulkar serves up his coup de grace; the
bowler-his confidence in shambles by now, runs in and bowls the
fastest of the three; on a good line and a very good length: nothing
but a defensive shot is possible for such a delivery. That is exactly
what Sachin does; he goes on the backfoot, and plays a defensive shot.
However, the ball is timed so well that it rockets past the mid on
fielder and reaches the boundary. This is the moment of magic; when
all Tendulkar fans, all cricket fans ,and even the opposition players see a
divine moment; this is the moment when God shows his own hand. These
three strokes are etched in the consciousness of thousands of Indian
fans and supporters, for it was with these three strokes that Sachin
wiped out that feeling of inferiority, that fear which Indians had
towards the Pakistan Cricket Team. He leveled the playing field, and
on that magical afternoon in Centurion, he produced the innings of a
lifetime.
through the opposing team; imperceptible but definite, wary of the
coming destruction. There is that familiar feeling of powerlessness, and of
Deja Vu, as all their plans crumble before their very eyes.
The world's fastest bowler runs in and delivers a thunderbolt of a
short delivery; it is meant to intimidate Tendulkar, to rattle him a bit,
to remind him of who is in control. A step or two is taken outside
offstump, and the fiercest of square cuts is played; as the ball is
sent into the stands over backward point. The next ball is even
faster, pitched up on off and middle; designed to trap most good
batsmen in front of the wicket. Tendulkar unfurls the beautiful flick
shot; one of his own invention, and the ball is sent to the square leg
boundary with awesome power. The bowler cannot believe it, the
opposition is stunned into silence and the crowd is in raptures.
It is then that Tendulkar serves up his coup de grace; the
bowler-his confidence in shambles by now, runs in and bowls the
fastest of the three; on a good line and a very good length: nothing
but a defensive shot is possible for such a delivery. That is exactly
what Sachin does; he goes on the backfoot, and plays a defensive shot.
However, the ball is timed so well that it rockets past the mid on
fielder and reaches the boundary. This is the moment of magic; when
all Tendulkar fans, all cricket fans ,and even the opposition players see a
divine moment; this is the moment when God shows his own hand. These
three strokes are etched in the consciousness of thousands of Indian
fans and supporters, for it was with these three strokes that Sachin
wiped out that feeling of inferiority, that fear which Indians had
towards the Pakistan Cricket Team. He leveled the playing field, and
on that magical afternoon in Centurion, he produced the innings of a
lifetime.
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