India arrived in Perth battered and bruised, trailing 0-3 in the five-match series. Facing an Australian pace quartet at the peak of its powers on a treacherous WACA wicket was a daunting prospect. The pitch, notorious for its trampoline bounce, promised little respite for a lineup already struggling against relentless hostility. The Australians had posted 333, a total that, in the given conditions, was neither intimidating nor insubstantial. India’s response soon unfolded into a familiar pattern of capitulation.
When
Krishnamachari Srikkanth miscued a pull against Craig McDermott, sending the
ball spiralling into David Boon’s waiting hands at short-leg, India’s scoreboard
read 69 for 2. The impending collapse seemed inevitable. Yet, in this bleak
moment, history was about to be written.
The Arrival of a Prodigy
The
18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar strode out at No. 4, a position he would make his
own in the years to come. A diminutive figure in his cricket boots, he appeared
almost incongruous amidst the towering presence of Australian fast bowlers. But
any reservations about his ability to cope with the ferocity of Perth’s conditions
were quickly dispelled.
The first
boundary was a statement of intent—a deft steer between slips and gully. What followed
was a masterclass in technique and temperament. He let the bouncers go when
needed, cut fiercely when width was offered, and drove with pristine timing
when the bowlers over-pitched. Against an unrelenting attack, Tendulkar batted
with an authority that belied his years.
For a
fleeting moment, with Sanjay Manjrekar providing able support, the scoreboard
read a respectable 100 for 2. It was, however, a mere illusion of stability.
A Lone Warrior in a Losing Battle
Merv
Hughes, burly and bustling, found his mark. He induced an edge from Manjrekar,
lured into an on-drive, and Dean Jones flung himself horizontally to complete a
stunning catch. Soon after, Dilip Vengsarkar perished in an eerily similar
fashion, Mark Taylor completing the dismissal at slip.
Even as
wickets crumbled around him, Tendulkar remained an immovable force. Hughes was
square-cut with venom, McDermott was dispatched with a regal drive, and Paul
Reiffel was subjected to an exhibition of precise stroke play. But the
resistance was solitary.
At 130 for
5, Mohammad Azharuddin’s reckless pull before the end of play epitomized
India’s batting frailties. The scoreboard read 135 for 5 at stumps, with
Tendulkar on 31—undaunted, unshaken.
A Fight Against Fate
The next
morning, nightwatchman Venkatapathy Raju perished without troubling the
scorers. Tendulkar responded in kind, a fierce cut off Hughes bringing up his
half-century. But even as youth displayed resilience, experience floundered.
Kapil Dev’s
ill-judged hook landed safely in the hands of long leg, and two balls later,
Manoj Prabhakar slashed straight to gully. At 159 for 8, India seemed on the
brink of complete disintegration. The field closed in as Allan Border sought a
swift end.
Yet, Tendulkar
refused to succumb. He drove Whitney down the ground with elegance, guided
Hughes to the fine-leg boundary, and square-drove Reiffel with pristine
precision. Kiran More, dogged in defence, provided invaluable support. A
partnership of 81 was stitched together, remarkable in both circumstance and
quality.
At 96, a
brace of runs brought Tendulkar closer. Then, in an act of poetic symmetry,
McDermott over-pitched, and a sumptuous straight drive sealed his hundred.
Helmet off, bat raised, the boy revealed his youth to the world. He had played
one of the most luminous innings ever witnessed on that treacherous surface.
Having
reached his hundred, Tendulkar sought quick runs, unfurling daring strokes over
the slip cordon. But Whitney had the final say, extracting steep bounce from a
good length, forcing a fend to second slip. He departed for 114 off 161 balls,
his innings spanning 228 minutes and decorated with 16 boundaries. From 159 for
8, he had propelled India to 240, but his disappointment at dismissal was
palpable. As the WACA crowd rose in admiration, he struck his bat against the
ground, knowing that this was just the beginning of a journey.
The Verdict of the Match, The Verdict of
History
India’s
innings folded at 272, with More contributing a gritty 43. Australia, relentless in
their pursuit of victory, piled on the runs and set India an insurmountable
target. The final act was brutal—a surrender to Mike Whitney’s precision,
sealing a 300-run defeat. Australia clinched the series 4-0.
Yet, amidst
the ruins, India had unearthed its future. Tendulkar’s innings was more than a
hundred; it was an announcement. Against the best attack in the world, on the
hardest pitch imaginable, a teenager had showcased a brand of batting that
would define an era. This was not just the arrival of a prodigy; it was the
birth of a legend.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
