NEW DELHI: The year 2009 marked the completion of 20 years of international cricket for Sachin Tendulkar, who has been regarded as the most complete batsman of his time.It was on November 15, 1989, that Sachin played his first Test match against Pakistan in Karachi at the age of 16 years - the second youngest debutant in the world.Though Sachin made his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 119, against England at Old Trafford in 1990, becoming the second youngest cricketer to do so at the age of 17 years 112 days, his century as a 19-year old on a lightning fast pitch at the WACA is considered one of the best innings ever to have been played in Australia. The Batting Genius himself ranks that Perth century as one of his best.In Test matches, Sachin has scored centuries against all the Test-cricket playing nations. He has scored a century in at least one cricket ground of all Test-cricket playing nations, except Zimbabwe.
In ODIs, Sachin has scored centuries against 10 different opponents. He has scored centuries against all cricketing nations that have permanent One Day International status, except Bangladesh.By the end of 2009, Sachin had scored 88 international centuries (43 in Tests and 45 in ODIs) and is still going strong after 20 years at the top. Beautifully balanced, with a complete range of shots, the 36-year-old has succeeded in all conditions against all opposition and has reserved some of his finest performances for Australia, consistently the world's strongest side for the past 15 years.Sachin's first century of the year came on March 8, 2009 when he smashed his first century in New Zealand, an unbeaten 163 in the third ODI, as India won by 58 runs. Sachin retired hurt due to a muscle pull after smashing 5 sixes and 16 fours in his 133-ball knock.Sachin hit two centuries in six Tests that India played in 2009. His first century of the year came against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on March 20, 2009 when he scored 160 in the first innings as India won the Test by 10 wickets. This was India's first Test win in New Zealand since the Auckland Test of 1976.
Sachin's second ODI century of 2009 came against Sri Lanka in the final of the Compaq Cup on September 14. Sachin's 133-ball 138 was instrumental in India winning the match by 46 runs as the Master Blaster was adjudged both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series.On November 5, 2009, Sachin broke two records during his epic 175 in the fifth ODI against Australia in Hyderabad. He became the first batsman to complete 17,000 runs in ODIs when he reached seven in that knock. When he reached 92, Sachin completed 6000 runs on Indian soil. For the record, Sachin hit his 45h ODI century that day off just 81 balls and he is the first batsman to make nine ODI hundreds against one opponent (Australia).When he reached 5 in the sixth ODI on November 5, 2009 in Guwahati, Sachin completed 3000 runs against Australia.On November 20, 2009, the last day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, Sachin became the first batsman to score 30,000 runs in international cricket when he scored his 35th run in the second innings. He went on to score his 43rd century, an unbeaten 100, to save the Test on the final day.
The India-Sri Lanka One-Day International played on December 15, 2009 at Rajkot was Sachin's 600th international match.And it was only on the field that Sachin was accumulating accolades by the dozen. Off the field too he remained in the news.In July, Sachin made his first-ever trip to Madame Tussauds where his wax figure came up, gracing the A-list lineup along with greats like Mohammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Jesse Owens.Sachin joined his contemporaries Brian Lara and Shane Warne but the first Indian sports personality to be portrayed at the museum. His wax figure came up at a cost of £150,000.On November 13, 2009, during one of the many functions organised to facilitate him for completing 20 years in international cricket, Sachin sent out a strong message to all those supposedly upholding the Marathi cause saying: "I am extremely proud of being a Maharashtrian, but Mumbai is a part of India and I play for India."
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