Former Cricketers Recall 1997-98 Australia’s Tour To India When Sachin Tendulkar Smashed A Double Hundred

Feb 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM

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Former Cricketers Recall 1997-98 Australia’s Tour To India When Sachin Tendulkar Smashed A Double Hundred

As India-Australia gear up for the four-match Test series, that kick-starts on February 23 in Pune, former Indian cricketers recalled how Australia struggled during their 1997-98 India tour, when legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar smashed a double hundred at the Brabourne Stadium (Cricket Club of India).

“When [Shane] Warne came into the attack, I stepped out and hit him to the cover boundary fence. I reached my 50 but I was disappointed that I could not convert that innings into a big one,” the former left-handed opening batsman Amit Pagnis was quoted as saying by the mid-day.

The then Mumbai skipper Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 204, smashing the visitors’ bowlers all around the park.

On February 26, 1998, Tendulkar registered his maiden first-class double century while leading the Mumbai side against a star-studded Australian team.

Pagnis, who scored 50 off 60 balls, praised cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, for encouraging him to play the ball according to the merit which later on reaped good results.

“Another disappointment for me was that I missed seeing Sachin’s brilliant knock from the non-striker’s end as he came into bat when I was dismissed,” Pagnis recALLED.

In that game, Tendulkar scored his 100 off 90 balls before surpassing his 179 runs, which he registered in 1994-95 against the West Indies in Nagpur in the first-class game.

Interestingly, in the Mark Taylor-led side, Australia’s current coach Darren Lehmann was also a part of the visiting team. The all-round show from Mumbai saw Australia losing the game by 10 wickets.

Lehmann was able to score just three off four balls before being sent back to the pavillion by Rajesh Pawar. He was then stumped by Sulakshan Kulkarni after scoring just one in the second innings.

“It was determination and domination all the way. The speed at which he scored the double ton was brilliant, almost unbelievable,” the southpaw Kulkarni said on Tendulkar.

However, Lehmann would be adamant this time to back his men for giving their best performance again India A on Friday before the start of the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Former left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni recalled it was an all-round effort against the challenging Australian team.

Kulkarni picked up three wickets in the first innings followed by a magnificent five-wicket haul.

“It was very satisfying since every batsman or bowler aims to score a hundred or bag a fifer. Playing against Australia is always a challenge and the first match of the tour sets the tone for the visiting team. Fortunately, that series ended in India’s favour,” Kulkarni said.

India bowlers set the tone after wrapping Australia’s second innings on 135. In the first innings, Australia declared on 305 for eight when a splendid knock of Michael Slater (98) steadied the visitors’ ship.

Leggie Shane Warne was at the receiving end when he was smashed for a flurry of boundaries. He went wicket-less after sending down 16 overs, which saw him conceding 111 runs.

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