Privilege to watch Tendulkar’s mastery: Roebuck

SYDNEY - Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck has said that Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s 49th Test century against Australia at Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was a delight to watch.

In a syndicated column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck applauded Tendulkar, who missed a century by two runs in the first Test in Mohali, for his positive approach of racing from 93 to 105 with two sixes against off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

“Sachin Tendulkar’s son had told him how to negotiate the 90s. “Dad,” spoke the lad, “get to 94 and then hit a sixer”. Life is simple for a child. Instead, his father had continued fiddling around and losing his wicket,” Roebuck wrote.

“No more. Tendulkar advanced delightfully to 93. And this time did not hesitate. By the look of things he had not been tossing and turning in bed at the prospect of facing the Australian tweakers. Now he stepped down the track and dispatched Nathan Hauritz over the ropes. Doubtless his boy was egging him on from afar.”

“Tendulkar (on 99) faced the offie again. Two steps down the track, a swing of broad shoulders, a clean connection and the ball soared over the ropes. Happily the crowd has latterly been jovial and attentive. Now rapture became ecstasy. Tendulkar had recorded his 49th Test ton. Retirement? Pah! Age? Fie on the word!” he added.

Roebuck further consoled Australian captain Ricky Ponting for suffering “silently as a mighty batsman built his score”.

“It’s scant consolation but in this form and on this pitch, Tendulkar could probably have patted away shafts of lightning,” he said. (ANI)