NEWS
GROUNDS
COLUMNS
MATCH REPORTS
INTERVIEWS
ENEMY CAMP
GALLERY
SCHEDULE
FORUM

Tendulkar's sole focus was on survival

What was Sachin Tendulkar doing on Saturday? Did he bat at some stage? If he did, it was difficult to notice because the way he went about his innings on day 2 was not at all what the South Australian cricket public had been expecting from the dynamic Indian captain. His dour knock on Saturday evening left some of the Adelaide Oval patrons disappointed and perplexed at how he went through the day's remaining 22 overs for a meek 12 not out.

Obviously Tendulkar did not show his true character and he had to face some fine bowling from Australia's very best, in Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. But it had been anticipated that Tendulkar would go on the attack to give India some momentum going into the next day, while instead he opted for the defensive route.

After 3 days, it has become clear that Tendulkar wanted to ensure he was still at the crease by stumps so he could begin afresh on Sunday. It is to be hoped that the disenchanted fans who saw the end of Saturday's proceedings were conscious of what occurred today for it was then that he showed what he is capable of and was on track for a century were it not for a questionable bat-pad decision. But on Saturday evening, it was hard to understand Tendulkar's intentions because they surely did not aid India's cause.

Admittedly, sitting up in the Sir Edwin Smith stand - around deep backward square for the right-hander at the river end; deep extra cover at the Cathedral end - is not the perfect place to pass judgment on what is occurring out in the middle. But after the morning's frolics when Shane Warne had few problems smacking the ball around to boost Australia's total and then the Indian top order kept the score ticking over in pursuit, Tendulkar's sole focus on survival was a slight let-down to some and "boring" to a few of the more impatient at the ground who wanted entertainment.

Perhaps Tendulkar's action, or lack of it, would have been viewed in a kinder light had he not been hyped so much leading into the series. But the media here focussed primarily on what a quality and attacking batsman Tendulkar is before the Test, so after Laxman was caught in the gully for a polished 41, the Indian captain was given warm and eager applause as he entered at No. 5. With India 3/90 and 22 overs still remaining in an extended day because of earlier rain, batting for stumps did not appear an option. But that, apparently, was what Tendulkar was doing. Sure, Rahul Dravid did the same thing, but he is renowned as a fine defensive batsman and an accumulator of runs. Tendulkar was expected to take up the challenge of facing Warne and McGrath, or at least do something more positive than score 12 runs from 69 balls in more than an hour and a half.

Credit, of course, must go to those two Australian bowlers because they allowed Tendulkar absolutely nothing. McGrath kept up a disciplined line outside the off stump, which Tendulkar countered by leaving most balls, defending the others, and occasionally seeing one go past the edge of the bat. McGrath was so accurate, in fact, that he bowled 8 overs in the spell and claimed 1/1, receiving hearty applause down at deep backward square at the end of each maiden over, which he would acknowledge with a nod and a thumbs-up. He kept Tendulkar and Dravid very quiet indeed, which was undoubtedly part of his plan.

Warne, too, was quite superb from a bowling point of view, considering he was basically slaughtered the last time he bowled to the Indians. Tendulkar did not want to risk taking another piece of him on this occasion, but the stonewalling eventually cost India when they lost Dravid for 35, popping a catch to short leg. That undermined all the caution India had shown, and Ganguly soon demonstrated how it could have been done as he equalled his captain's tally by taking a positive approach.

Ultimately, Tendulkar's first Test innings on this tour maintained his reputation here as he and Ganguly repaired the damage with a partnership that must have delighted Sunday's spectators as much as it disenchanted Saturday's. A change of tact was patent as he decided runs had to be scored from all bowlers to resurrect India's hopes. The pair had added 108 when Warne broke through, dismissing Tendulkar caught at short leg for 61 when he tried to turn one to the on side. Subsequent replays, and the fact Tendulkar looked back and shook his head, indicated that he copped a poor decision.

Despite that crucial blow, India would have registered a large total were it not for Warne's efforts. His performance, in claiming 4/92 from 42 overs including the scalps of India's best three batsmen, was all the more meritorious because it came against his bogey team and at a venue where he has previously been unsuccessful. That combination of factors means he has won the first battle in his war of revenge with India, but he would have to bowl Australia to victory on the last day before we can begin to draw any conclusions.

Daniel Laidlaw