By Denzil Fernandes
London, Jul 21: Believe it or not ! The world’s greatest batsman Sachin Tendulkar is yet to score a 50 at the Lord’s cricket ground. The super star has played at least in four tests at Lord’s and not managed a decent score at the ground compared to his high scoring rate. His scores at the Mecca of cricket so far have been 10 & 27 in 1990, 31 in 1996, 16 & 12 in 2002 and 37 & 16 in 2007. Unbelievable but true. In fact, the aggregate is 149 in seven innings for an average of 21.28 bringing him a strike of 42.32 at Lord’s ground. This is despite his 4 centuries in England at other grounds earlier.
Most of the spectators at the first Test at Lord’s starting on Thursday July 21 will be there to watch Tendulkar to score not 50 but a perfect 100 runs which will also bring him 100 centuries in international cricket. This will also mean that Tendulkar will be recording his first ever test century at Lord’s. The spectators will be witness to a great record of sorts if Tendulkar manages that elusive century at a ground where every cricketer wishes to play. Another record is that this will be the 100th test between England and India and the 2000th test match on the international level. So much for cricket history !
When he knocks that century in England on the current tour, he will also become the record holder for most centuries by an Indian batsman against England in England. Both Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar have scored four hundreds each in England so far.
Tendulkar has managed to attract plenty of attention for various reasons including his down to earth habits and image as a calm and well behaved cricketer. Earlier in the month, he was at the cricket academy in England where his young son Arjun was getting trained. When the proud father went to the academy to watch and coach his son, he also gave some valuable tips to the other trainees at the academy without any hesitation.
Tendulkar is understood to be venturing into a cricket related business and is actively marketing his new found ideas in England. He has been holidaying with his family in England when the Indian team was on tour to the West Indies. He even attended the Wimbledon Tennis Championships as a special invitee and met tennis super star Roger Federer during the matches along with his wife Anjali in tow. In fact, he has an apartment in the nearby area of Lord’s and he has been practicing at the nets even before the Indian team arrived in the country.
But everything will go to the side when the Mumbai man pads and sets his foot on the hallowed soil of Lord’s as the Indians start their batting. Whether he agrees or not, Tendulkar will be more than anxious to notch up that century of centuries which will etch his name in gold at Lord’s and make him a member of that special club. Far lesser known batsmen than Tendulkar have scored a ton at Lord’s and unless rain plays spoilsport there is every reason to believe that we are going to see a smashing century from the evergreen cricketer.
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