Though Graeme Pollock scored a double ton in a domestic one-dayer as against Sachin Tendulkar's odi feat, he went through similar challenges. read on...

Scoring 200 in ODIs as tough as making 400 in Tests: Graeme Pollock

Though Graeme Pollock scored a double ton in a domestic one-dayer as against Sachin Tendulkar'su00a0ODI feat, he went through similar challenges. read on...

Not many can clearly understand the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar's double hundred in one-day cricket. Graeme Pollock can.

The former South African batting great is in a better position because he achieved the same feat at the domestic level. In fact, the former left-hand batsman was the first-ever to hit a double hundred in a one-day game when he smashed an unbeaten 222 for Eastern Province vs Borders at East London in 1974.

Tendulkar became the first batsman to score a 200 in one-day internationals on Wednesday.

"I don't know for sure what the comparison would be (in terms of degree of difficulty) but it's got to be pretty close to scoring a 400 in Test cricket. In Tests, you are batting for probably 10 hours and the circumstances are different, but that is the highest score in Test cricket. One-day cricket has been played for far less time, but there are a lot more ODIs and there are a lot of opportunities but people don't look to play for a 200 in a one-day cricket, so I think in the circumstances, it's up there," the Johannesburg-based Pollock told MiD DAY in a telephonic chat. Pollock watched the game on television and the purist in him was delighted that the record was created by a batsman playing proper cricketing strokes. "Getting a double in 150 odd balls is a huge effort.
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Once in a while, he may have hit the ball over the top but generally he played along the ground; getting boundaries; beating the field. It looks easier than guys coming in the end and trying to slog from ball one. What it's telling you is that a good, classy player can come and score just as quickly as anybody else without having to go the aerial route all the time.

"He's been a top player and been there for 20 years so its only fitting that somebody of his calibre is the first guy to get 200," said Pollock. The legend said one needs to be fortunate to have a perfect day in every sense.
"You've got to have a good batting wicket, you need to be in good form, and the circumstances have got to be right and I had that opportunity."

Tendulkar certainly had his at Gwalior. "Obviously, his form was good. It was a 350-plus wicket. He got in early and took it to the bowlers."

Recalling his own effort of 222 not out in 1974, Pollock said: "I remember the runs really coming right in the end as I scored about 60 runs off the last three overs. I came in after 15 overs and batted for about 35 overs. It was certainly the first double hundred and took some doing."

Tendulkar's fitness at 37 which has amazed the experts. "As you mature, experience does help and you would be as effective at 35 as you were at 25. I remember I was playing as well at 35 as when I was at 20. Your reflexes are a bit slower but it doesn't reduce your effectiveness. Some people were saying a couple of years ago that for Sachin, it was not coming quite as easy. But he's come back stronger than ever.

"He's had one of his best seasons, both in Test and one-day cricket and as long as he's feeling good and getting runs, he must keep going."

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