Sachin Tendulkar made 241* and 60* in SCG Test in 2004.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra revealed an interesting anecdote about Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary knock of 241* for India against Australia in the 2004 Sydney Test. Tendulkar helped India gain a huge advantage by playing one of the most disciplined knocks in Tests.
India came into the fourth and final Test in Sydney of the 2003-04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the series level 1-1. India batted first and posted 705/7d thanks to 241* by Sachin Tendulkar and 178 by VVS Laxman, along with fifties by Virender Sehwag and Parthiv Patel.
Speaking in-depth, Chopra disclosed that he assisted the renowned player with his own equipment after Tendulkar's abdominal guard broke. The incident happened in 2004 at the Sydney Cricket Ground during India's Test match against Australia.
"We were together in the dressing room. His abdominal guard actually broke. So, he had to borrow someone's. I gave it. You carry a lot of things, but you don't carry two abdominal guards," Aakash Chopra told 'Khaane Mein Kya Hai'.
Tendulkar’s knock was a brilliant one as he had struggled previously in the series, getting out edging the ball outside off-stump while playing the cover drive shot. So, he decided to shelve the shot entirely during the SCG knock and didn’t play a single cover drive.
"He came up to me and said, 'Aakash, did you notice something?' I said, 'Well played.' He replied, 'I didn't play any drive.' I said, 'You are joking.' But he was telling the truth,” Chopra added.
Australia made 474 in return with 117 by Justin Langer and 125 by Simon Katich, while Anil Kumble took 8/141. India then posted 211/2d in the second innings, with Tendulkar making 60* and Rahul Dravid making 91*, setting Australia a target of 443 runs.
Steve Waugh’s resilient 80 helped Australia draw the Test, and the series ended 1-1. This match was also the final Test of Waugh’s Australia career as he retired after this game.