EOT Moments: Sachin Tendulkar's maiden international hundred
Tuesday August 14, 1990, Old Trafford. A day which will be forever etched in cricket folklore.
That was the day Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar arrived on the world stage with his first of what would be 100 career international centuries across the formats; 51 in Tests and 49 in ODI cricket.
Yes, Tendulkar - the Little Master, aged 17 years and 112 days on day five of this England versus India contest - had played eight Test Matches before this.
He had debuted against Pakistan in Karachi the previous November and already had a reputation as a star of the future having scored a mountain of runs in schools cricket in Mumbai and made an encouraging start to professional life in domestic cricket.
A couple of Test fifties had come on tour against Pakistan and New Zealand, and Tendulkar started a landmark week in Manchester with a first-innings 68 in the second Test of the series - England had won the first convincingly at Lord’s.
England had the better of a high-scoring contest at what is now widely known as Emirates Old Trafford; 519 played 432 in the first innings. Our very own Michael Atherton was one of a trio of centurions alongside captain Graham Gooch and Robin Smith, while India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin followed suit.
In the second innings, Allan Lamb joined the list as England declared early on the fifth day on 320-4, setting the visitors an unlikely 408 to win.
India fell to 109-4, at which point 17-year-old Tendulkar walked in with a rescue job in front of him. And he did it superbly, finishing 119 not out off 118 balls with 17 fours in his side’s 343-6.
As classy an innings as it was, little did we know just how significant it would be and quite how many times his raise of the bat would be repeated through to his retirement in late 2013.
Soon after his arrival, Azharuddin and Kapil Dev both departed to the spin of Eddie Hemmings - 183-6 and with approximately two-and-half-hours of play remaining.
But instead of digging in, Tendulkar played positively in a bid to limit the home side’s ability to attack with fielders around the bat.
This wasn’t an entirely faultless innings - he was dropped early on - but one which dominated an unbroken 160 partnership for the seventh wicket with Manoj Prabhakar, who finished with 67 to secure the draw.
Tendulkar was particularly strong through the covers in this knock, off both front and back foot, and he reached three figures with a pushed three straight of mid-off against Angus Fraser’s bowling. He was the youngest batter to score a Test century in England and the second youngest to score one anywhere in the world.
The first of those two stats still stands to this day.
“An innings of skill, temperament and delightful strokeplay,” said BBC Television commentator Richie Benaud as Tendulkar almost apologetically raised his bat to the away dressing room and the appreciative Old Trafford crowd.
Watch the highlights and the reaction of umpire John Holder is noticeable. He gives a nod of appreciation as if to say, ‘Some innings, that!”
Afterwards, England’s captain Gooch said of the player-of-the-match: "Tendulkar played an excellent innings. He is a superb player for his age, just like an old pro."
Even though Tendulkar went on to post many more international centuries in England, he never did so again at Old Trafford despite playing here many times more.
But neither he, nor those lucky to be present that day, will ever forget it.
Just like Laker’s 19 wickets against Australia in 1956, or Warne’s ball of the century in 1993, it will forever be up there amongst the greatest international moments at our cherished home.
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