Angus Fraser: Tendulkar biggest name cricket has seen

With Sachin Tendulkar on the brink of a century of centuries, Angus Fraser, writing in the Independent, says while many players are capable of producing the occasional moment of brilliance, very few can sustain a level of performance that is truly outstanding for more than 20 years like India's master batsman.

Around a billion Indians are perfectly sure about his genius. His gifts are obvious and he has lavished them on both forms of the game. Any doubts about his ability to provide under the most strenuous circumstances have long been allayed and the fact that he has amended his style to ensure longevity and yet retained or even increased his effectiveness makes him the leader of the modern triumvirate [that includes Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara].

Martin Chandler, writing for Cricketweb.net, looks back on Tendulakar's early years and the first time he read about the young genius.

... it was the fifteen-year old Bombay schoolboy, Sachin Tendulkar, who cornered most attention ... on his first-class debut , he struck a fluent 100 not out from 129 balls ... and followed it with other fine innings to top the Bombay aggregate with 583 runs at an average of 64.77. Technically sound and alert to the loose ball, Tendulkar showed astounding maturity for one so young and looked to be a Test cricketer in the making ...