India will play England today at Lord's in the 2000th Test Match. Some 4 years ago, when India toured England, India drew with England at Lord's in the first test match and went on the win the test series. Sachin Tendulkar, then 34, was just beginning to emerge from one of the worst patches that he had seen.
He got out cheaply in that test match. I remember saying to my friend, "He missed a century at the Mecca once again....and he won't get another chance since this is his last test match at Lord's...even Agarkar has one there".My friend, a little less enthusiastic about cricket asked me.."Why is this his last test match...he can obviously score a century later.." I chose not to answer the question....It would have been difficult to explain to him that Sachin was almost at the end of his career and probably touring England for the last time. And the next tour was in 2011. Now, here we are in 2011, at Lord's again, Sachin continues to play and defy the odds at the age of 38. I am hoping and eagerly waiting for the 100th century...and the occasion can only be second to scoring the 100th one at the World Cup finals...My fingers are crossed....
