Arguably the best batsman of all time, Sachin Tendulkar amassed almost 16,000 Take a look at runs in a glittering profession. Tendulkar can be the very best scorer amongst Indian batters in Australia. Nevertheless, when an 18-year previous Sachin Tendulkar toured Australia in the summertime of 1991/92, he wasn’t so widespread. On the eve of India’s warm-up match in opposition to the Prime Minister’s XI, Greg Rowell, an Australian lawyer who was a first-class cricketer, has narrated a heartwarming story of how he acquired Tendulkar out in the identical sport 23 years in the past.
Rowell had dismissed not solely Tendulkar, but additionally Ravi Shastri within the ‘Prime Minister’s XI vs India’ sport in 1991. The latter was a famend all-rounder at the moment. A quick bowler, Rowell ended the sport with gorgeous figures of seven/27.
“Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t such an enormous title then; Ravi Shastri was,” mentioned Rowell, in a dialog with The Indian Express. “Oh, by the tip of the collection although, I’d know who Tendulkar actually was,” Rowell added.
That was as a result of Tendulkar had made a critical mark on Australian soil even on the age of 18. Though Australia had demolished India 4-0 within the five-match Take a look at collection, Sachin Tendulkar had shone vibrant.
Tendulkar had completed the collection as India’s highest run-scorer. The 18-year-old slammed 368 runs in 5 Assessments, together with two centuries.
Apparently, Shastri additionally carried out effectively within the collection, scoring 300 runs in simply three video games, and ending as India’s second-highest run-scorer.
Rowell had been a part of a Prime Minister’s XI that included a number of future Australia greats and regulars. The likes of Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Fleming and Damien Martyn have been all Rowell’s teammates in that sport. Allan Border had captained the facet.
“It was televised nationally, and for us first-class gamers, it was a sport the place the nation noticed and judged you,” revealed Rowell.
Rowell made it so far as Australia A, enjoying in opposition to the senior Australia facet, however did not carve out a protracted profession in skilled cricket. Rowell switched professions, changing into a lawyer, earlier than ultimately winding up as a board member of Cricket Australia.
Matters talked about on this article
