'It has taken me 20-plus years to get here.’
And yes, Sachin says he’s ‘quite pleased’.
After almost 21 years of Test play, Tendulkar has broken through this long-standing record to become the most capped player of all time with 169 Tests to his name.
The record-breaking, groundbreaking (but not bat-breaking) event occurred today on P Sara Oval in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in the 3rd Test between the two neighbouring South Asian cricketing-rival countries.
But in terms of this most precious record, it was a cricket great from Australia, Steve Waugh - holding the world record of 168 Test caps - who must have been on Sachin’s mind.
On reaching the record, Sachin had scored 13,742 Test runs, including a record 48 centuries, and 17,598 runs in ODIs. He had also taken nearly 200 wickets in international cricket using a variety of bowling styles.
‘The rest of things can be achieved, but for this you need an X number of years, an X number of tours. That's when this thing happens.
‘And I am quite pleased. It has taken me 20-plus years to get here.’
Sachin said his Test career had gone quicker than he expected. Considered a respected elder while also still a champion, he had some words of wisdom to share with young cricketing hopefuls.
‘You just need to enjoy it; it's a circle.
‘You are not always on the top, sometimes there are rough patches, but the simple formula that I have followed is, whenever I have gone through tough phases, I have found a reason to work harder.'
And he tries to 'spend all my energy at something I have been wanting to get better at’.
Sachin said that after his first Test match in 1989, he thought he might not be able to play again. And he’s very happy to have had ‘this privilege of such a long journey at the international level’. Over his Test career he’s missed 14 matches.
Sachin put some of his success down to pre-match preparation.
‘Sometimes I was able to achieve results, sometimes I wasn't, but my preparations were always there.’
Perhaps by missing the final day’s play of the 2nd Test due to a groin strain, Sachin was able to concentrate even harder on pre-match preparation. Thank God this is a man who is determined to override whatever physical strain he suffers – whether persistent, serious or niggling. Given time Sachin has risen above the physical dimension.
‘Really proud of it,’ is how Sachin described his success – and we’re really proud of you too, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. You're a credit to your parents!
Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at: http://www.searchingforsachin.net/
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ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! Sachin is simply outstanding. Thanks for the blog and keep them coming.
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