January 4, 1999

SACHIN TENDULKAR
Stroke of Genius

Bowlers the world over were at the receiving end of his scintillating bat.

FACT FILE

Born: April 24, '73 Records in 1998: Four hundreds in four one-day final matches. Four catches in a one-dayer, INDIAN BEST. 21 centuries in one-dayers, highest by any player.   I am sick of that $#%@& --Michael Kasprowicz, Australian fast bowler

Every bowler knows it. It's not a question of if, it's when the violence will begin.

Zimbabwe's Henry Olonga found out two months ago. As usual, the hard way.

In the first match he dismissed Tendulkar with a rising delivery. In the next he didn't know where to pitch -- Tendulkar's bat was everywhere. Olonga was taken off double-quick.

No big deal.

In Sharjah, Delhi, Dhaka, Harare, London, Colombo (and a few others we missed) Tendulkar has been doing just that. Getting bowlers taken off, shortening their careers. As that subtle Aussie Michael Kasprowicz put it in Sharjah, "I'm sick of that $#%&*."

We understand. After all, Tendulkar scored four centuries in four consecutive one-day finals. He scored two centuries in three Tests against Australia. He took 5-32, his best one-day spell.

What else can he do?

At the Mumbai nets this year, manager Ashok Mankad asked, "Do you bowl left arm?"

Replied Tendulkar with a straight face, "Yes, I can do that also."

In 1998 the man was bigger than the myth.

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