'Australians embraced Tendulkar with fervour'
An Australian writer shares his memories
10-Nov-2013
'A young, modest, ambitious, and seemingly innocent cricketer' • AFP
What is your first memory of Sachin?
My first memory of Sachin followed his remarkable Test debut in Pakistan. Stories of his precociousness and courage appeared in the Australian media. I first saw him at the crease at Sydney in January 1992 when he became the youngest man to score a Test century in Australia.
My first memory of Sachin followed his remarkable Test debut in Pakistan. Stories of his precociousness and courage appeared in the Australian media. I first saw him at the crease at Sydney in January 1992 when he became the youngest man to score a Test century in Australia.
What are your stand-out memories from his first tour to Australia in 1991-92?
Unsurprisingly, I most remember his undefeated 148 at Sydney when I first thrilled to him at the crease. It was the first of his 11 Test hundreds against Australia.
Unsurprisingly, I most remember his undefeated 148 at Sydney when I first thrilled to him at the crease. It was the first of his 11 Test hundreds against Australia.
Did you ever speak to him?
I had the pleasure of interviewing him on a number of occasions for newspaper and magazine articles and television documentaries. Whether we met at cricket grounds, hotels or at the MIG Club in Bandra, Mumbai, invariably Sachin was polite, giving with his time, honest with his answers and expansive in his thinking on the game.
I had the pleasure of interviewing him on a number of occasions for newspaper and magazine articles and television documentaries. Whether we met at cricket grounds, hotels or at the MIG Club in Bandra, Mumbai, invariably Sachin was polite, giving with his time, honest with his answers and expansive in his thinking on the game.
How shocked were you when you visited India and experienced the Sachin mania first hand?
Given I had first visited India in 1984 when Kapil Dev was accorded god-like status following the glory of the World Cup triumph the previous year, I was not overly surprised the way the Indian fans threw themselves before the young Tendulkar.
Given I had first visited India in 1984 when Kapil Dev was accorded god-like status following the glory of the World Cup triumph the previous year, I was not overly surprised the way the Indian fans threw themselves before the young Tendulkar.
Can you pick out one particular day or moment that highlighted Australia's affection for Sachin?
All followers of the game generally are drawn to the young, modest, ambitious, and seemingly innocent cricketer who is intent on playing in the right spirit and entertaining. Australians are no exception and they embraced Tendulkar with a fervour not seen since a 21-year-old David Gower first toured for England in 1978-79. And they never lost the thrill of seeing Sachin and cheered him to the echo to the very end.
All followers of the game generally are drawn to the young, modest, ambitious, and seemingly innocent cricketer who is intent on playing in the right spirit and entertaining. Australians are no exception and they embraced Tendulkar with a fervour not seen since a 21-year-old David Gower first toured for England in 1978-79. And they never lost the thrill of seeing Sachin and cheered him to the echo to the very end.
Mike Coward is a cricket writer in Australia. He was speaking to Siddhartha Vaidyanathan