Ushering in Test No. 2000

Here’s a simple, yet telling, comparison. All three Tests in the recently concluded series between India and the West Indies in the Caribbean played to near empty stands. This was the first series featuring India immediately after their World Cup triumph, and you might have imagined there would be more interest. Apparently not. Moving to the other side of the Atlantic, even before the India-England series can get underway, tickets to all four Tests have been sold out. Clearly, it takes the promise of a real contest to arouse spectator interest.

Comparisons with Don Bradman, who made 29 hundreds and averaged 99.94 to Tendulkar's 56.94, remain one of cricket's favourite parlour games. Statistically, Bradman will always be untouchable, but the gentler fixture list of his day meant his workload paled in comparison. Bradman played 52 Tests in 20 years, although his career was interrupted by the war. Tendulkar is about to embark on his 178th in 22 - and he has played a year-and-a-quarter's worth of one-day internationals.

How long will the wait be for the next Richard Hadlee? At a wild stab, it'll be a while. The world test record-holder when he retired with 431 wickets, he was fit to sit among the all-time great masters of seam bowling.

From where will New Zealand's next Glenn Turner or Martin Crowe spring? Both, in their distinctive ways, among the best of their time. Highs and lows along the way, for sure, but from a small, initially unpromising acorn, it's been a no less exhilarating journey for that.