In remembrance

Tendulkar dedicates achievement to late father

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD (AP) -- India's ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar dedicated his 29th Test century to his late father after leading the visitors to a satisfying 262 for four on the first day of their second Test against the West Indies.

Five days short of his 29th birthday and in his 93rd Test, Tendulkar drew level with the legendary Sir Donald Bradman of Australia, whose 29 hundreds took him just 52 Tests.

"It surely feels great to have equaled Sir Don Bradman's number of hundreds," the soft-spoken batsman said. "But nobody can match Sir Donald. That's one thing which is accepted all over the world."

Instead, he said, "It's just a nice feeling that my name is going to be there when they show number of hundreds scored with 29. This particular thing I'd like to dedicate to my father. He would surely have loved it."

Sachin's father, Ramesh, died three years ago during the 1999 World Cup in England but remains a source of inspiration for his talented son.

Among Indian players, only the great opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar (34 in 125 matches) now stands ahead of Tendulkar in Test centuries scored.

Tendulkar admitted that his unbeaten 113 was not one of his classics, but his innings was important in leading India out of early trouble at 38 for two.

"Every day it can't be the same thing going on," Tendulkar said. "I think if you know your feet are not moving you've just got to hang around and wait for your time to come and that's what I did."

Tendulkar is widely acknowledged as the modern game's premier batsman, even by his nearest challenger for that crown, the West Indies' own Brian Lara.

But Tendulkar said that he has never played the game for records or personal feats.

"When I started playing cricket, I never thought about how far I want to go so why should I think about it now?" the Mumbai batsman said. "I just want to go out and play and enjoy."

Tendulkar did not enjoy it all on Friday, struggling early on but surviving a couple of confident appeals against him before he scored 30.

He was just six when a huge appeal for caught behind off Adam Sanford was turned down by Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva.

Just after lunch, it was Australian umpire Daryl Harper who frustrated the home team in denying Mervyn Dillon's appeal for a close leg before decision when Tendulkar was 28.

But Tendulkar grew in confidence as he went on and completed his century an hour before close, taking 194 balls and 269 minutes to post his first hundred in the Caribbean. The milestone included 13 fours.

"I feel very happy that I've been able to achieve another century, especially here in the West Indies," Tendulkar said. "In 1997, I just missed out three times, so this time it was on my mind."

The venue was particularly imported, he said. "Growing up, one saw exciting cricket in the West Indies so as a batsman you want to go there and score runs."

He said he had set himself goals on this tour, but was reluctant to reveal them.

"I'll let you know after the fifth Test," he said.

By then, he may well have passed a few more landmarks.

 

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