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A phenomenon in the making Sachin Tendulkar is an all-time great that the game of cricket has produced. To identify the best innings of Sachin Tendulkar is not going to be easy, as Tendulkar has played some memorable knocks right from his debut, and has delighted the many cricket lovers all over the world. To look closely into the career of Tendulkar, and to look for the best innings of Sachin Tendulkar brings out the five greatest innings of Tendulkar in test cricket. England v India at Old Trafford, 1990 – 119 n.o A s a 17-year old prodigy, in walked Tendulkar, when pressure was breathing down his neck as he had to rise above the ordinary to avoid the defeat that was looming on the horizon. With India placed at 127 for 5 on the final day, Tendulkar had to carry old heads upon young shoulders to thwart defeat at the hands of the Englishmen. Tendulkar proved his mettle by batting for more than four hours in partnering with the tail to score 119 n.o as well as took India to safety w...

In the hunt for a victory to level the series, India found the spoiler to its well-founded dreams in the form of weather gods that wrecked damage on the day four of the second test between India and South Africa. Play had just started at 10.30 a.m. and a delayed lunch at 1.45 p.m. saw the gloom darken, forcing the players to remain indoors, as the play again resumed only at 3.20 p.m. India, so far, in its quest to maintain the home record as well as keep the No 1 ICC test ranking to itself had removed two architects of the South African batting line-up, as both Smith and Kallis were outwitted, and the first innings hero and debutant Alviro Petersen also fell cheaply. But, Hashim Amla on 49, in top notch form held forte, and being dismissed only once in this test series, Indian think tanks will have to come out with a novel idea to get the better of this man on the fifth and final day. The weather forecast for Thursday remains to be encouraging for the Indians, and in theory, Indian...

VVS Lakshman, with a brilliant 143 and M.S Dhoni notching up 132 played their roles to perfection as the South Africans felt the heat when the pair consolidated India’s position on the third day of the second cricket test between India and South Africa. The South Africans were not their usual self, as the visiting team dropped many catches, with the seventh wicket partnership between Lakshman and Dhoni registering 259 runs, taking the total lead to 347. It must have been a declaration made from sheer instincts, as Dhoni declared the innings and let the South Africans face five deliveries, who were 6 for no loss, before play was called off owing to poor light. Earlier, the day had plenty to offer as both India and South Africa were expected to battle it out to take control of the second test. Lakshman, the artistic wonder, played some lovely flicks and drives to the delight of the audience with Amit Mishra proving to be a thorn in the South African flesh. Dropped by Kallis, Amit Mishr...

Sachin is ageing, but like wine, with his stints at the crease providing the testimonial evidence, as he can be best described as a phenomenon in the world of cricket. The second day of the Eden Gardens test between India and South Africa witnessed classical centuries from the Master, Sachin Tendulkar, and from the breezy Shewag as India were 342 for 5 at the close of second day’s play. A blistering 165 from just 174 deliveries by Shewag and a crafty 106 from Tendulkar saw India wrestle advantage from the South Africans, though a late comeback brightened the hopes of South Africa. India lost three wickets in quick succession, as Tendulkar, Shewag and Badrinath were back in the pavilion, within a space of three runs. Earlier the South Africans put on 30 runs, after resuming play at 266 for 9, when Zaheer Khan struck for the Indians with the wicket of Wayne Parnell. Zaheer with figures of four for 90 and Harbajan with three for 64 tasted maximum success with the ball. The visitors pl...

South Africa seemed to be sailing pretty, as they were well placed at 218 for one, after Graeme Smith had won the toss and elected to bat. With Hashim Amla (114) and debutant Alviro Petersen (100) exhibiting a sparkling batting display, South Africa seemed to be cruising along to reach a comfortable total to scuttle an Indian victory, and with it to re-conquer the Number 1 spot concerned with the ICC Test rankings. But Zaheer Khan and Harbajan Singh had different ideas altogether, as Zaheer sent both the centurions back to the pavilion with Harbajan scalping three victims. India, with the influence of the electrified atmosphere at the Eden Gardens that worked to is advantage reduced South Africa to 266 for 9, when stumps were drawn for the day. The pitch offering enough bounce produced a marked influence on Zaheer Khan, as he sent the off-stump of the South African captain, cart-wheeling, but, both Ishant and Zaheer failed to be consistent to produce a significant impact during the...