The best is not always in a test

There is always something special about a great batting or bowling feat performed in a Test match. After all it is the highest form of international cricket and the opposition is the best that a player can face. But sometimes achievements made at the national level are so important that they can take precedence over many of the deeds performed at the international level.

Take the case of the greatest of them all, Don Bradman. The legendary Australian scored two triple hundreds in Tests, made 309 runs in a day, took a hundred off the Bodyline attack and hit a century at Leeds in 1938 in such bad light that it was said the fielders could not see the ball. He played many other breathtaking knocks in his long career of 52 Tests. But in his autobiography, he makes special mention of a hundred he hit against Middlesex in 1934, a knock that Ralph Barker included in his extremely readable book ``Ten great innings.''

Bradman says quite modestly ``I played an innings which probably ranks as the most attractive of my career from a spectators' point of view.'' And then he proceeds to give us a vivid description of that knock by William Pollock who says ``an innings that thousands of us who love cricket are going to enshrine in our memories was played at Lord's on Saturday. For more than 40 years I have watched great batsmen, WG Grace, Ranji, Trumper, Frank Wooley, Macartney, Jessop, Hammond and Hobbs and am grateful for many precious hours from them but never have I seen a masterpiece of batting more glorious than Don Bradman's 100. It was supreme. It was epic. I do not believe that any bowling in the world could have stopped the torrent of his run making. During this wonderful hour and quarter, it was an honour to bowl and field during such an innings. The Don played the great innings of the season. The real great things of cricket are a treasure.''

One could well borrow many of words Pollock uses in describing Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten 233 which steered Mumbai into the Ranji Trophy final on Saturday. The batting maestro has also played many memorable knocks in Tests and one day internationals but one senses that he will place the knock played against Tamil Nadu and spread over three days very high on his list of hundreds that he will cherish for long.

The first noteworthy aspect of the knock is the number of runs. A figure of 233 - incidentally his highest score in first class cricket - marks any innings as out of the ordinary. And then the sheer statistics associated with it - 565 minutes, 334 balls, 21 fours and five sixes - is quite mind boggling. But what enhances this knock is the manner in which it was made. But for that a certain background is necessary to put the innings in proper perspective.

A few days before the scheduled start of the Ranji Trophy semifinal, Tendulkar, keen to play the game, requested the Indian Cricket Board for a postponement. He was to play in the Cricket Week celebrations match at Dhaka on April 8 and it would be cutting too fine to make it to Mumbai the following day, the scheduled start of the game. The Board granted his request and the match got under way on April 11.

His request was seen as a measure of Tendulkar's determination to help win back the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. And then came a second gesture which confirmed that Tendulkar was determined that Mumbai should win what he considered a needle game against opponents who had done very well in the season. He stepped down from the captaincy. Samir Dighe had been leading the side for most of the season anyway, as Tendulkar had been on national duty. Saying that Dighe should carry on as he was doing a good job, Tendulkar also hinted that he did not know many of the players too well. More important, this left him free to concentrate on what he does best - batting.

Sure enough, he entered in the midst of a crisis. Replying to Tamil Nadu's first innings total of 485, Mumbai were 77 for two in the post tea session when Tendulkar entered. By close, the home team were 141 for four with Tendulkar on 34. Certainly the hosts were in a spot of bother but the fact that they batted in depth and Tendulkar was still around were comforting thoughts.

On the third day, even as wickets fell steadily, Tendulkar held one end admirably against keen bowling and in the cauldron that was the Wankhede stadium. Not only that, he kept the score moving along with the result that Mumbai were 470 for eight at close of play with Tendulkar having moved from 34 to 213. By now, it had already been a great innings. But 16 more runs were needed for the vital lead and Tendulkar had just two tailenders with him, both with no pretentions to being any kind of batsmen.

No matter. Tendulkar just took charge. And not just by potting around or keeping the strike. It was a thrilling counter attack, which only Tendulkar could have authored. Hitting a full blooded shot to the boundary or slamming a six which sends the ball out of the ground at this critical stage is the kind of stuff that is straight out of the Golden Age of the game. Abhey Kuruvilla and Santosh Saxena might just as well have been spectators. Indeed, both failed to score but that did not stop Tendulkar taking the score from 449 for eight to 490 on his own.

And yet even at this crucial stage, he was always thinking, his mind was fully on the state of the game. As he himself has put it, ``When our score was 485 for nine, I asked the umpires what if Mumbai was bowled out for the same score as Tamil Nadu's. I was told Tamil Nadu was slightly better on quotient. But at that stage I was there to get the runs. If I had not got the runs it would have been very disappointing.''

Quite frequently, leading players are not able to show the same concentration, dedication and determination when it comes to national level or club games. After all they play so many international games these days so that it is almost impossible to stay focussed at all levels. But Tendulkar obviously is in a class of his own in this aspect. As he put it, ``I am aware it is difficult to maintain the same level of concentration. But then one is expected to concentrate at all levels. All things considered, it was one of the most important innings I have played in my life. Even if it is not Test cricket, it's very important for me and Mumbai. Playing for Mumbai is equally important. I would like to put this innings up there.''

Tamil Nadu captain Robin Singh who has played so much international cricket alongside Tendulkar paid him a handsome compliment. Robin, a shrewd skipper tried every trick in the book to curb Tendulkar, but ultimately had to concede that ``It was almost as if he were playing an international game. He realised that the pressure was on him and played according to the requirements.''

Ashok Mankad, the Mumbai coach has been around a long time now. He played his initial first class match in 1963-64 and represented India for almost a decade. But even he was deeply moved by Tendulkar's innings. ``It was the best knock I have seen in first class cricket. It showed commitment, dedication and discipline. It was his positive energy which infected all of us.'' And then Mankad went on to recall what happened at the end of the Tamil Nadu innings. ``When I went up to have a word with him after Tamil Nadu made 485, Sachin told me `Kaka, don't worry. I am going to win this game for Mumbai no matter what happens. You should not worry. We are going to be positive.' As it happened it was an effort which will go down as one of the most disciplined knocks. As coach, I cannot be more pleased. To be honest, I had already planned as to how we are going to get them out in the second innings even if we had conceded the lead. But as long as Sachin was there, he prevented that thought from entering my mind.''

That is super confidence for you. From a batsman who is aware of his immense abilities, who knows what he can achieve and then goes out to achieve it. His numerous other great knocks in Tests and ODI's are all part of cricketing folklore. Let's add this double century alongside those innings. Believe me, it won't be out of place.