Can Tendulkar get 100 international hundreds?

[Avada Kedavra]

Lara's 153 and Tendu's 136 were equally good.The former will be remembered more fondly because it was in a winning cause - and rightly so.As for the quality of the attacks,I think it's debatable which one was better.Saqlain was at his peak then and was if I remember correct it was a last day pitch.The 2 W's as a combo were more terrifying than Mc-Gillespie combo IMO.

Pity Tendu's was in a losing cause but the story goes that he was advised not to even play that day by the doctors,so considering all that it was probably his best knock.Saqlain admitted as much in an interview when asked about the best knock played against him...the reporter brought up Sehwag's 309 at Multan,Saqi smiled and said it wasn't even close or something along those lines.

 

[vcs]

Yeah, there are extended highlights of that match on youtube and its a very interesting watch (still ). Sachin had a bit of luck with a few LBW shouts early on, and bat-pads against Saqlain. I think that was the match where he brought out the lap shot. Ganguly also got a terrible decision... poor sportsmanship by Pakistan to claim that catch.

 

[Sir Alex]

Sachin would've already got to 100 centuries by now had India played more tests during the 90s. From 1993-2000 (8 years) they played just 59 tests. In perspective Alastair Cook has already played 57 in 4.5 years of test cricket, Lara played 70 himself (despite missing out on a few iirc : WI played 75) in the same period, and Ponting played 57 during his peak years from 2002-2006.

 

[vcs]

It's also possible that he might have burned out by now if he had played much more in that era.

 

[honestbharani]

Personally thought Sachin's Perth knock the toughest of the two considering the conditions, so probably the more significant innings and greater achievement. But the Sydney one was was just glorious. Lots of full flowing shot-play.

yep.. my view exactly.

 

[Ikki]

Bradman could have had about 100 centuries in tests alone had he played as many innings as Tendulkar

 

[Sir Alex]

It's also possible that he might have burned out by now if he had played much more in that era.

No, because that would mean lesser ODIs. Tendulkar and india were playing ODIs like crazy in those years. Even upto 40 or more a year.

 

[Sir Alex]

Bradman could have had about 100 centuries in tests alone had he played as many innings as Tendulkar

Sachin would've had 100 hundreds if there were no ODIs

 

[honestbharani]

Lara's 153 and Tendu's 136 were equally good.The former will be remembered more fondly because it was in a winning cause - and rightly so.As for the quality of the attacks,I think it's debatable which one was better.Saqlain was at his peak then and was if I remember correct it was a last day pitch.The 2 W's as a combo were more terrifying than Mc-Gillespie combo IMO.

Pity Tendu's was in a losing cause but the story goes that he was advised not to even play that day by the doctors,so considering all that it was probably his best knock.Saqlain admitted as much in an interview when asked about the best knock played against him...the reporter brought up Sehwag's 309 at Multan,Saqi smiled and said it wasn't even close or something along those lines.

Well... This is what I meant by "every bit as good as the other"..


Great spinner - Saqlain for Sachin and Warne for Lara - check
Great fast bowler - Wasim for Sachin and McGrath for Lara - check
Great support fast bowler - Waqar for Sachin and Gillespie for Lara - check
Great second spinner - Nadeem Khan for Sachin and MacGill for Lara - check
Carrying injuries - Back injury for Sachin and Chipped wrist bone for Lara - check


Maybe the Aussie attack Lara faced is "slightly" better which is why I lean towards Lara, win or lose is not the reason. Lara could have so easily lost it had Healy taken a great catch..

 

[honestbharani]

No, because that would mean lesser ODIs. Tendulkar and india were playing ODIs like crazy in those years. Even upto 40 or more a year.

I am not so sure though.. This workload stuff is always hard to work out. Batting in test matches takes a LOT out of you for sure and even though the intensity may be lesser in the fielding in tests than ODIs, playing for 5 consecutive days still takes the toll on your body, not to mention the long hours he would have had to field given the attack we had those days.

 

[Ikki]

Whatever amount Tendulkar would bat, Bradman would score double his amount of 100s .

 

[honestbharani]

Sachin would've had 100 hundreds if there were no ODIs

Bradman would have had too had there been no WW II.

 

[vcs]

No, because that would mean lesser ODIs. Tendulkar and india were playing ODIs like crazy in those years. Even upto 40 or more a year.

Yeah, different eras, different priorities, ODIs were also very popular back then and what we consider Mickey-Mouse tri-nation series these days had great attendance and viewership.. there was huge hype around that Sharjah tournament in '98 when Tendulkar scored those 2 100s.

The reason why I said that he might have burned out was because India were weaker and he was the main guy in the batting lineup in those years, especially abroad.. it takes a physical and mental toll upon you (how it would have affected his numbers is also open to speculation). Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman have been instrumental in Sachin still going strong at the tail-end of this decade by taking some of the pressure off him.

 

[Sir Alex]

Well... This is what I meant by "every bit as good as the other"..


Great spinner - Saqlain for Sachin and Warne for Lara - check
Great fast bowler - Wasim for Sachin and McGrath for Lara - check
Great support fast bowler - Waqar for Sachin and Gillespie for Lara - check
Great second spinner - Nadeem Khan for Sachin and MacGill for Lara - check
Carrying injuries - Back injury for Sachin and Chipped wrist bone for Lara - check


Maybe the Aussie attack Lara faced is "slightly" better which is why I lean towards Lara, win or lose is not the reason. Lara could have so easily lost it had Healy taken a great catch..

Waqar was a better bowler than Gillespie at that point in time. There is no way you can say the Aussie bowling lineup was better than Pakistani attack once you take into account the conditions too.

You are leaning towards Lara because you're biased as you like him more. I am biased towards Sachin as I am his fan. Take it easy

 

[Teja.]

Well... This is what I meant by "every bit as good as the other"..


Great support fast bowler - Waqar for Sachin and Gillespie for Lara - check

I hope you are referring to post-injury Waqar as a comparable support-bowler to Gillespie. Overall, Waqar is simply the best bowler in all the ATGs bowling in both matches IMHO.

 

[honestbharani]

Waqar was a better bowler than Gillespie at that point in time. There is no way you can say the Aussie bowling lineup was better than Pakistani attack once you take into account the conditions too.

You are leaning towards Lara because you're biased as you like him more. I am biased towards Sachin as I am his fan. Take it easy

Check stats. And I am SURE now you didn't watch a BALL of these two series live. Waqar was dropped for the next test, Gillespie was in his prime. Waqar was coming off injuries and was bowling slower than Wasim and only as fast as Abdul Razzaq.


What's next? Nadeem Khan was a better spinner than MacGill?


Seriously, we get it. You think Sachin is awesome and everything he has done on a cricket field is gold. But sorry, we don't think that way. And we have more than enough solid reasons without having to be edified by someone who so clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Just leave us alone to have our opinions.

 

[honestbharani]

I hope you are referring to post-injury Waqar as a comparable support-bowler to Gillespie. Overall, Waqar is simply the best bowler in all the ATGs bowling in both matches IMHO.

Again.. check what he was in that series.. 99 WC, Waqar wasn't even playing in the side. Wanna check his stats from that time.. Gillespie was on the rise and at his peak as a bowler then.. He bowled an unplayable one to Lara in the first test of that very series. And Waqar was being smashed around by Sadagopan Ramesh. Take your pick.



And let me put this FTR. I saw both innings as it was played LIVE and I think Lara faced the better attack by a bit of a margin. Saqlain was good but the McGrath and Gillespie of that time were EASILY better than Wasim and Waqar in that period. Please don't confuse them with the mid 90s W & W.


And bias has nothing to do with this coz I "cried" on the ground that day. Trust me, it was a day that broke 40,000 people's heart at the Chepauk.

 

[vcs]

That 153* was something else TBF. I watched it live (on TV) and it was awesome. Sadly, I couldn't watch the '99 Chennai Test but watching the '08 Test against England made up for it somewhat.

 

[Teja.]

Again.. check what he was in that series.. 99 WC, Waqar wasn't even playing in the side. Wanna check his stats from that time.. Gillespie was on the rise and at his peak as a bowler then.. He bowled an unplayable one to Lara in the first test of that very series. And Waqar was being smashed around by Sadagopan Ramesh. Take your pick.



And let me put this FTR. I saw both innings as it was played LIVE and I think Lara faced the better attack by a bit of a margin. Saqlain was good but the McGrath and Gillespie of that time were EASILY better than Wasim and Waqar in that period. Please don't confuse them with the mid 90s W & W.


And bias has nothing to do with this coz I "cried" on the ground that day. Trust me, it was a day that broke 40,000 people's heart at the Chepauk.

Man, Why are you being so defensive? I completely agree that for the series' concerned Gillespie and Waqar were in the same league of support bowlers.

However, I just wanted to clarify that you weren't putting Waqar in the bracket of great support bowlers overall(Like Gillespie is.) That would be criminally underselling him IMO.

 

[vcs]

Again.. check what he was in that series.. 99 WC, Waqar wasn't even playing in the side. Wanna check his stats from that time.. Gillespie was on the rise and at his peak as a bowler then.. He bowled an unplayable one to Lara in the first test of that very series. And Waqar was being smashed around by Sadagopan Ramesh. Take your pick.



And let me put this FTR. I saw both innings as it was played LIVE and I think Lara faced the better attack by a bit of a margin. Saqlain was good but the McGrath and Gillespie of that time were EASILY better than Wasim and Waqar in that period. Please don't confuse them with the mid 90s W & W.


And bias has nothing to do with this coz I "cried" on the ground that day. Trust me, it was a day that broke 40,000 people's heart at the Chepauk.

Were you among those that gave Pakistan a standing ovation at the end?

YouTube - Ind vs Pak, 1st Test '99 - result: chennai wins!