Yes, Sachin has done it. The first batsman ever to reach the extraordinary Test target of 50 centuries.
It’s a record he may hold long into the future - perhaps always considering the state of Test cricket - with his nearest competitor, Ricky Ponting, back at the 39 mark. The record century, comprising one 6 and twelve boundaries, was gained in front of a buoyant Centurion South African crowd. How would you feel being Dale Steyn bowling to such a colossus?
Take a look at this Ten Sports exclusive video.
Once again Sachin looked to the skies as he achieved the almost impossible – there was no doubt he believed his father’s soul was looking on. In fact he made the comment:
"The first thing obviously I thought of was my father because I wanted to do it for him. Yesterday was his birthday, and I would like to dedicate this to him."
Of his remarkable achievements this year – 7 test centuries - Sachin has commented:
"I am playing for the love of it."
Harish Krishnamachari, the senior vice president of World Sports Group, the marketing firm that handles Sachin Tendulkar, is negotiating a multi-million deal signed between Tendulkar and Coca Cola .
“It (the 50th Test ton) doesn’t make any difference to Brand Sachin. In the last couple of years, he has reached a level where there’s no comparison. Anything he does will not impact the brand. People will just choose to look at what he’s up to next,’’ he said.
And with talk of Sachin’s admirable refusal of a beer sponsorship, he’s a sure thing not to be tempted to ruin his concentration on extreme fitness.
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Alas, I wasn’t lucky enough to be present to witness Sachin's historic feat – quite the opposite in fact – due to a prior commitment in hospital. And it seems timely that I leave this blog unattended for a couple of months with my feet up during the Christmas-New Year break, as it will take that long to heal my recently-broken leg.
In 3 weeks my leggings have gone from this:
to this, after surgery by a specialist referred to as ‘The King of Ankles’ in Sydney. And I can’t even boast I suffered the ‘maisonneuve’ fracture on a cricket pitch.
No disrespect to The Great Tendulkar - but I won’t be posting again anytime soon – though I will nevertheless be up and running when Sachin’s glorious goal of 15,000 Test runs is achieved – a record certain to be knocked over during the upcoming World Cup year.
Instead check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:
Searching for Sachin.
All best wishes for success in 2011 to the most extraordinary cricketer in the world, Sachin Tendulkar ....
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