Sachin Tendulkar's five best knocks

It's a strange age, 35. In sport, your major achievements would be behind you. In almost everything else in life, you would be looking ahead. Is that true though with Sachin Tendulkar? Would he merely play out the last stage of his career? Or would he power on and do something that he has never done? The odds would be against a staggering new achievement but you can never tell with genius. It thinks differently, and indeed, genius is the word that most readily comes to mind when you think of Tendulkar. From the extraordinary career that he has crafted, to pick five innings is difficult, even if you condense the search to those that you have seen. It will stimulate debate but that is part of the fun!! So here we go:

14th Feb, 1992
India are 3-0 down and Tendulkar has only just moved to number four in the batting order in the previous test after batting at six before that. The track is traditional Perth and every Indian batsman is struggling with the bounce. Except one. Tendulkar comes out firing, plays some of his best shots towards the longest square boundary I have seen. Intriguingly, for a small man, he is able to get on top of the ball and hit it down. India lose easily but a world star is born. He is not yet 19. Probably the best Tendulkar century.

26th March, 1998
Australia are in India and the ball is starting to turn for Shane Warne. It has been billed as the encounter between the modern giants; Warne vs Tendulkar. In the first innings at Chennai, Tendulkar lasts 4 balls against Warne, attacking every one of them. In the second, India need someone to launch a counter-attack so that they can set a target and have enough time to win. In the dressing room, Tendulkar puts his hand up to play that innings. His 155 is one of the most dramatic innings I have seen and when Warne goes round the wicket to bowl into the rough, Tendulkar hits him against the turn into the stands. It is a stunning shot, one that he has, like a chess player, prepared for. One of the great counter-attacking innings you will see.

28th Jan, 1999
Pakistan are in India after 20 years, the security is immense and the crowd is sporting, cheering both sides on. It can only happen in Chennai. In a close game, India are set 270 and are 6 for 2 when Tendulkar comes out to bat. The wickets continue to tumble and at 82 for 5 Tendulkar at last finds a partner, Nayan Mongia, willing to hang around. Against Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq at their peak of powers, Tendulkar offers both defence and strategic attack. Then, his back gives way. Unable to play as he wants to, he launches a thrilling attack. It is too good to last but when he is out, only 16 remain. Sadly the rest of the batsman can only add another 4. It was one of the greatest innings ever played for the various facets it enveloped and, like so much of great theatre, emerged as a tragedy for the home crowd who gave Pakistan a standing ovation

23rd of May, 1999
India are at the World Cup in England and tragedy has befallen the Tendulkar family. Sachin's father, a huge source of encouragement, has suddenly died in Mumbai and he has to return home. For the first time in his life, he says he doesn't want to play cricket, but his family realises that his grief can only be overcome by his beloved game. In his absence, India lose to Zimbabwe, and when he rejoins the team in Bristol, he is wearing dark glasses. He never wears that kind. They are thick and are meant to hide eyes that are swollen with tears and grief. It is only little Kenya he is playing against but he counters swirling emotions and when he gets to a hundred, he looks up and says thank you. All of us have tears in our eyes.

2nd March, 2008
India are in the final of the last tri-series to be played in Australia. They are in inconsistent form and Tendulkar has never scored a one-day century in
Australia, though he has 41 others. They love him there and stand every time he enters or exits a ground. This time they will applaud a very special innings as Tendulkar crafts a stunning run-chase to remain not out on 117. It comes off only 120 balls and he is a month and a half short of 35.