LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar’s latest bid to become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds ended in failure when he was dismissed for 34 in the first Test against England at Lord’s on Saturday.
The 38-year-old Tendulkar came into this match having scored 51 Test centuries and 48 in one-day internationals — both records.
He had looked in good touch while stroking six fours before fast bowler Stuart Broad, who has taken all three India first innings wickets to fall so far, produced a good length delivery that Tendulkar could only edge low to Graeme Swann at second slip.
It was scant reward for Tendulkar who was rested from India’s recent tour of the West Indies, and spent much of the intervening time practising at Lord’s or the capacity crowd who had come hoping he would crown the 2,000th Test of all-time and the 100th between England and India with his ton of tons. Tendulkar’s exit continued his mediocre Test record at Lord’s where his highest score in eight innings remains the 37 he made in 2007.
His dismissal on Saturday left India 158 for three — 316 runs behind England’s first innings 474 for eight declared in what was the opening match of a four-Test series.
Tendulkar, the now retired Brian Lara of the West Indies and Australia’s Ricky Ponting have been the pre-eminent batsmen in world cricket during the past 20 years, yet they have all failed to score a Test century at Lord’s. (Agencies)