On this day in 1990, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar recorded his maiden Test century, a majestic 119 not out on a fifth day track to save the game for India against England at Old Trafford.
Tendulkar went on to add 50 more Test tons to his tally by the time he called time on his international career in 2013. But the first one continues to remain special for the Master Blaster.
"I scored that 100 on August 14 and next day was our Independence Day, so it was special. The headline was different and that hundred at least kept the series alive till next Test at the Oval," Tendulkar told PTI on the eve of the 30th anniversary of his first international hundred.
So what exactly was the feeling, apart from the pure joy of achieving the milestone?
"The art of saving a Test match was a new experience for me," he remarked.
He might be just 17 at the time but Tendulkar was confident of saving the game after having batted with a bloodied nose and a blood-soaked jersey in his debut series against Pakistan.
"In Sialkot where I got hit and scored 57, we saved that Test match, too, from 38 for 4. Waqar's bouncer and playing through pain defined me. After those kind of hits you are either stronger or you are nowhere to be seen."
In fact, Sachin was hit on the back of the head by one of Devon Malcolm’s fast deliveries in the first innings of that Manchester Test.
"Devon and Waqar, during that phase, were easily the two quickest bowlers in the world bowling at 90 mph.
"Yes, I didn't call the phsyio as I didn't want to show them that I am in pain. My pain threshold was fairly high. Its okay to get hit. So what. You don't show your pain to the bowler," the legend said.
Coach Ramakant Acherkar prepared him for all sorts of pain by making him play on the same pitch for 25 days straight at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana.
"I was used to getting hit on my body from my days in Shivaji Park as Acherkar sir would make us play on that and it would have enormous wear and tear.
"The same pitch we played a match on one day and next day we were back for nets. So balls would just jump off length and hit my nose.
"In fact, I would just throw the ball up and take it on my body to absorb the pain."
While Tendulkar’s maiden Test hundred was laced with a number of classy strokes, the shots that he fondly remembers are the exquisite backfoot cover drives off Chris Lewis.
"Lewis bowled sharp inswing and throughout my career, backfoot cover drive had been my favourite shot.
"The bowler who was the best by far in that series was Angus Fraser. He had a beautiful late outswing, high arm action, so ball would bounce and move so late that you had to play at it.
"It was a case of showing patience and credit to Manoj that we had a 160-run stand," the batting maestro said.
Asked if he felt in the last hour that the team has been able to save the match, Tendulkar replied: "No way till the last over. We came together when we were six down (183/6) but me and Manoj together said 'yeh hum kar sakte hain, match bacha lenge' (we can save the match). Also England had attacking field as they could only win from that position."
(With PTI inputs)
