India legend Sachin Tendulkar is one of those few cricketers who doesn’t like to talk about the change room secrets or match stories that fans are usually not aware of. In fact, even during his playing days, he was not seen engaging in vocal conversations with opponent bowlers.
However, from the past few days, it seems like the Master Blaster has been batting on the front foot. From the reason behind MS Dhoni’s promotion ahead of Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup finals against Sri Lanka to the planning before his famous ‘Desert Storm’ innings, Sachin had made some exciting revelations.
Continuing the same pattern, Sachin has once again displayed an old chapter from his books. The batting phenom has recalled a One-Day International (ODI) match against West Indies in which his innings was truncated due to an ‘umpiring error’.
The knock that Sachin talked about was the first ODI played between West Indies and India at Trinidad in 1997 where the Mumbaikar had scored 44 runs. Reminiscing the innings, Sachin said that he really values that knock as it came against the likes of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Franklin Rose.
“Another innings I cherish is the first one-day international between West Indies and India at Trinidad in 1997. We batted first, and the weather was overcast, with the wicket damp in the morning. Not only was the wicket challenging to bat on, but their bowling attack was also extremely good as well. Their pace battery consisted of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Franklin Rose,” said Sachin as quoted by cricket.com.
Sachin, who made 44 runs off just 43 balls with ten fours, was given out caught behind off Ambrose which the former Indian skipper termed as an umpiring error.
“I was able to counterattack and score quick 44 runs, before getting out to Ambrose caught behind on what was an umpiring error. It was a rain-curtailed match, and we lost the match, but purely for the tough conditions in which one had to bat on, I rank that innings as one of my favourites,” added Sachin.
In the game, India batted first and put up just 179 runs on the board as Ambrose claimed four wickets. In response, the Caribbean side reached the revised target of 146 in 27.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Sachin also rolled back to the time when he played two crucial innings against his favourite opposition Australia. One came in the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy and the other in 2001 during the bilateral series.
“There was an over where I attacked McGrath and managed to hit three boundaries and a six. The idea was not to let him settle, and the plan had largely worked. I eventually got run out for 35 runs in that match, but I was in good form to continue otherwise,” Sachin added further.
“I cannot forget the match against Australia in the ICC Champions Knockout Trophy in Nairobi in 2000 as well. The plan was to get him angry and make him attack my body instead of looking to get me out. We were beaten on occasions but also were able to make McGrath bowl where we wanted. I made a quick-fire 38 and this came in a winning cause, so I was very happy,” concluded the ‘Bharat Ratna’ awardee.
