Sachin Tendulkar's presence was a major factor in Suresh Raina getting to a ton on debut
Sachin Tendulkar's presence was a major factor in Suresh Raina getting to a ton on debut
Sachin Tendulkar knows a thing or two about easing nervous debutants to their first Test century. He has now done it twice in the past nine years, and at venues as far removed as soulless Bloemfontein, South Africa to the buzzing Sinhalese Sports Club here in the Sri Lanka capital.
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| Sachin Tendulkar not only notched up his fifth double century, but was also instrumental in Suresh Raina scoring a hundred on debut in the second Test against Sri Lanka yesterday. PIC/AFP |
On that first occasion, it was Virender Sehwag, batting at six, in the dry heat of the City of Roses. He had also stood at the other end and admired a very special innings from the Mumbai Magician in early November 2001;
his 155 a singularly impressive innings as he looked for support and found it in Sehwag, the debutant from Delhi.
Move forward nine years, and in the sultry late July heat of Colombo, Suresh Raina may have looked the more composed of the two debutants, but the experience and calming influence of Tendulkar as he moved towards his fifth Test double hundred, spread as it was over nine hours, ensured risks were kept to a minimum.
Tough jobOn this occasion, Raina too had to help saving a Test, eliminating risky shots and allowing Tendulkar to take lead ufffd calm yet progressive as both batsmen were on an equally important mission. First, to rescue India, next to push past the follow-on target and press on to overhaul the Sri Lanka total of 642 for 4, declared. The end result has been a monumental 669 for nine and a Test has been saved.
Sehwag's innings of 105 in 2001, bowled by Shaun Pollock failed to have the desired impact. India lost that Test by nine wickets. Here at the SSC, Raina's solid technique and style as well as nifty foot and handwork, ensured his Test century of 120 would not be wasted. Concentration levels were high as the pair worked on a record partnership of 256 for the fifth wicket.
As it is, there were any number of brilliant strokes, studded with magic drives and cuts.
Time mattersTendulkar innings, spread over a mind-consuming nine hours, displayed his easy flowing style. There is nothing flashy about his batting in what is his first century on the Emerald Isle since 1999, and ninth against Sri Lanka. Now he becomes the holder of the highest innings by an Indian with the 203, having watched Sehwag score 201 two years ago in Galle.
Yet, he is not disappointed about failing to score a first triple century on this occasion.
He admitted while batting so long in such heat and humidity is a challenge, he followed this comment with the interesting admission of, "I don't count the number of runs that I score when I am batting. But I am enjoying the way I am batting at present. It is quite fantastic."
As for batting with debutants (in this case Raina), he considered it important to make them feel comfortable and understand their mindset.
"Remember, Raina had 98 ODI matches before making this Test debut and that has helped him overcome early concerns. And having played with him before, I knew exactly what to expect from him," he explained. "Equally important for me to understand is what a debutant needs from me when we are batting together. But the way he batted was fantastic. It did not look as if he was playing his first Test."
There is nothing flashy about Raina's batting skills. Composed and articulate in his strokeplay, his off-drive off Dammika Prasad to bring up the three figures was typical stroke of a mature young man. It was the way he applied his ability that drew the early sting from the Sri Lankan bowling.
He was tested early on by Dilhara Fernando with a few bouncers and some short stuff, but used his feet cleverly to drive sumptuously through the offside off the hard-working, yet testing off-spinner Suraj Randiv.
