17th Test Hundred for Sachin in a winning cause
On expected lines Bangladesh caved in yet again in a Test Match which only went on to prove that stand in skipper Virender Sehwag was right in his criticism of Bangladesh's inability to take 20 wickets to win a Test Match. Sachin Tendulkar once again reinforced his status as the premier batsmen in the world with yet another century. Sachins century came under trying conditions given the fact that no Indian batsman barring Virender Sewhag was able to come to terms with the deadly duo of Shahadat Hossain and Shakib Al Hassan who ripped through the Indians apart in the first innings. Sachin's special effort of holding the innings together till the very end to remain unbeaten was appropriately rewarded with yet another man of the match award.
The criticism few years back was that Sachin Tendulkar has not contributed to Indian wins. Sachin's century against Bangladesh in the First Test at Chittagong on 18th January 2010 was his 17th ton in a winning cause. Only Ricky Ponting with 28 centuries , Steve Waugh with 25 centuries, Mathew Hayden and the legendary Sir Donald Bradman with 23 centuries each have scored more centuries than SachinTendulkar in a winning cause for their countries. Among Indian batsmen Rahul Dravid's 11 centuries, Virender Sehwag's 5 centuries and V V S Laxmans 4 centuries came in a winning cause and those stats are enough to show that Sachin has made a sizable ontribution in Indian wins. The most important thing to be noted here is that batsmen in the list who have scored more centuries in winning cause are all Australians and it is easier for them to finish on the winning side as Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Mathew Hayden were part of teams which had a potent bowling line up compromisingof the lengendary leg spinner Shane Warne and Mc Grath whose opening bursts were a nightmare for even the best top order batting line up in the world. It is said that Sir Donald Bradman played for an Australian team which is considered by many to be the best ever team of all time.
Sachin Tendulkar is placed 10th in all time list of highest numbers of runs scored in a winning cause and his average of 65.43 is the 12th best ever in the history of Test Cricket. Sachin Tendulkar got his 13th Man of the Match award in the First Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong Test which concluded on 21st January 2010 which means SachinTendulkar has more Man of the Match Awards than the fearsome West Indian duo of world beaters Vivian Richards and Malcom Marshall who once ruled the cricketing world. Sachin's tally exceeds that of the greatest all rounders of the game Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev. Other greats of the game like Mc Grath, Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald have fewer Man of the Match Awards than Sachin Tendulkar.
Sachins status as the best ever batsmen was never under any doubt in one day international cricket, but the above mentioned stats are enough to prove that he is one of the biggest match winners even in Test Cricket.
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