a good middle order innings

India versus NZ. 1994. 2nd ODI. Auckland....

The story is well known for any Indian cricket fan. Sidhu woke up with a neck sprain. Sachin was promoted to the opening spot and scored 82 of 49 deliveries!

Since that day, Sachin has played the role of opening bat through most of his ODI career. Prior to that, he was NOT a sparkling success in the one day arena. Post Auckland, he has been one of its biggest stars. Over the years, due to various reasons, he has dropped back down into the middle order. Sometimes, it has been to accomodate a pinch hitter at the top of the order. Sometimes, to shield him from the new ball and sometimes to keep the scorecard moving in the middle overs. And out there, he has had his successes, though, nothing like the eye catching scores he produces at the top of the order.

I always felt that Sachin's technical correctness does not lend itself suitable to scoring heavy and quick in the middle order. I've never felt that Sachin is the kind to muscle the ball to the boundary. Inspite of his strength, his forte was his ability to hit the balls and time them well. With the ball going soft in the middle overs, and the spinners or the Astles operating them, the ball just woundn't fly without giving it a might thwack. Consequently, he would be seen to be nudging and gliding the ball all over the field. Hard to recollect a quickfire half century from Sachin that changed the balance of the game.

Now, as I kept up on cricinfo and cricbuzz, I couldn't help note that he scored boundaries in FRONT of the wicket soon after he got in, which means firm pushes and hits rather than paddles and flicks. The text commentary from both sides indicated that this was the Sachin that we get to see rarely these days. One who forces the issue rather than the one that gets dictated to by Paul Harris.

Anyway, the scoreboard started racing and then galloping. Read that the Windies were kind enough to drop a couple of dollies. And then noted that the strike through the last over was very well 'managed'. Whichever way it was, I did not get to see it. All I see is a 100 of 76 balls. It must be quite close to his fastest one ever, if not the fastest. And this from the middle over.

Of course, this does not prove much. There are a 101 arguments against this innings being one of his top 10 or even 25. And I agree with most of them. However, 10 years down the line, is any argument going to prevent a smile from appearing when Sachin's fastest hundreds are published and you find a 100 of 76, while batting at No.4. I know I will be grinning!