Tendulkar: Batting, bowling challenging in Aus and NZ
In 1990, New Zealand was my first destination outside
the Indian sub-continent, travelling with the national
side. I was looking forward to playing against Richard
Hadlee, one of the finest-ever fast bowlers. I never
expected any special treatment from the greats of
international cricket and I was on the receiving end of
the hostilities just like any other batsman from my
team. So, in my first innings in New Zealand when
Danny Morrison dismissed me for a golden duck, the
Kiwis made sure they gave me an 'appropriate' send-
off. Needless to say, I was utterly embarrassed!
My first tour to Australia was in 1991, just before the
ICC Cricket World Cup 1992. The tour was special as it
was the start of my enduring relationship with the
Sydney Cricket Ground my favourite ground outside of
India. It was also the start of my friendship with one
of Australia's favourite sons, Shane Warne. I met my
batting hero Viv Richards for the first time. The
meeting lasted for probably three minutes but it was
very exciting for me.
I spent four-and-a-half months in Australia then
and undoubtedly it left a fundamental impact
on my career.
It was during this tour that I mastered the back-foot
punch. Being vertically challenged, I took a lot of pride
in staying on top of the bounce, I would instinctively
get behind the line and punch with a straight bat. Of
course, if there was room offered, I would still go for
the cut shot, but the back foot punch was more
versatile - I could use this shot even against good
length balls and it made the bowler's job that much
more difficult.
The shot would often fetch me a couple of runs and if
I timed the ball well, then it could go all the way to the
fence. Even defensively, I would get up on my toes to
stay on top of the ball, the approach was different
than the flat-footed defensive stroke, which was more
conventional.
New Zealand also holds a special place as it was in
Auckland (1994) that I started opening the batting in
One-Day Internationals, a position I enjoyed throughout
my career.
My keenness to open the batting was driven by the
fact that I could naturally attack the bowlers from the
start and take advantage of the field restrictions in the
opening overs of the innings. In 1991-92, Mark
Greatbatch, the charismatic left-hander, had
successfully attacked the bowling as an opener, and I
was so sure I could do a similar job for my country.
This edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
introduces the new rule of five fielders in the
30-yard circle, something that I have never
experienced during my career.
But at the same time, as a batsman let me say that if
we have two in-form batsmen at the crease then, God
help the bowlers! (By Sachin Tendulkar)
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