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Tendulkar and Malinga leaving the rest in their wake

22nd August, 2011
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22nd August, 2011
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Overnight, Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar fell an agonising nine runs shy of reaching the mightiest milestone in cricket history: 100 international centuries.

Under-rated England paceman Tim Bresnan trapped Tendulkar in front for 91 at The Oval, on the final day of the fourth Test.

Australian umpire Rod Tucker gave the decision, with replays showing the delivery would have clipped leg stump. A none too pleased Tendulkar left to an standing ovation.

So he’s still stuck on 99 international tons – 51 in Tests, and 48 in ODIs – with time running out. Today Tendulkar is 38 years and 120 days old,

The more staggering stat is the number of times he’s been dismissed in the 90s, in both formats: nine in Tests and 18 in ODIs.

For such a record-breaking batsman, and his longevity of 22 years at the top, 27 dismissals in the shadow of a century is hard to get the head around.

Nothing new in that. Tenduldar’s mountainous figures are way beyond the norm.

His 99 tons are way ahead of Ricky Ponting’s 69, Jacques Kallis’ 57, Brian Lara’s 53, and Rahul Dravid’s 46.

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Tendulkar’s batted 635 times in both formats, Ponting’s next with 535, Dravid 495, Kallis 475, and Lara’s 420.

And a binocular distance ahead in runs scored: Tendulkar 32,972, Ponting 26,335, Kallis 23,686, Dravid 23.381. and Lara’s 22,358.

But the highest score honour of the quality quintet rests with Lara’s unbeaten 400, Dravid’s 270, Ponting’s 257, Tendulkar’s 248, and Kallis’ 201 not out.

While Sachin Tendulkar is setting batting milestones that won’t be matched, Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga is doing likewise with the ball.

Overnight against Australia in Colombo, the “Slinger” became the first ODI bowler to grab three hat-tricks.

He was already the only four wickets in four balls record-holder, set in a World Cup game against South Africa in 2007.

His second was against Kenya, all bowled, earlier this year. And last night he bowled Mitchell Johnson, trapped John Hastings in front, and skittled Xavier Doherty – all with searing pace.

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Only three other bowlers have posted two ODI hat-tricks – Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Chaminda Vaas. But all three are retired, so no threat to the “Slinger”.

And only three Australians have achieved the feat once: Bruce Reid against New Zealand in 1986, Anthony Stuart against Pakistan in 1997, and Brett Lee against Kenya in 2003.

Stuart is the most extraordinary story.

He only played three ODIs. His hat-trick game that netted 5-26 was his last. Australia won by three runs with three balls remaining, but Stuart was never seen again.

The vagaries of selection.

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