White leaves India holding breath for another week

Cameron White’s fairytale debut script usurped that of Sachin Tendulkar on the final day of the first Test between India and Australia in Bangalore.

As the match meandered to a draw on the last evening, Tendulkar’s quest for the 64 runs he needed to pass Brian Lara as cricket’s greatest runmaker became the main point of interest.

Happy to keep the Indians out in the middle in fading light, Australian captain Ricky Ponting called on White’s flat legspinners as a safer option than the higher velocity deliveries of his quicks.

White gave his second ball of the spell a little more air than he usually does, and the reward was a lofted drive from Tendulkar straight to Michael Clarke at short cover.

As White and the Australians rejoiced, an expectant crowd was struck dumb.

It was just about the biggest first Test wicket possible, and completed a remarkable turn of events for White, who eight days ago was playing grade cricket in Melbourne before being picked as the replacement for injured legspinner Bryce McGain.

Tendulkar turned quickly on his heels and marched off towards the dressing room, swishing his bat in annoyance as he went.

Dismissed for 49, he will now need to make 15 in the second Test of the series at Mohali to go past Lara’s total of 11,953.

“I thought Cameron White did an exceptional job today, he bowled very well, a really positive sign for us from a guy playing in his first Test match,” Ponting said of White.

“Cameron didn’t get the opportunity to bat much but he’s come along in leaps and bounds with his bowling in this game.”

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© 2007 AAP