Thursday 23rd October 2008 13 Tendulkar’s five greatest

by Mike Norrish playing in alien conditions, and for five. Tendulkar, then in a glorious victory. With lapsed to 82 for five. Saqlain Mushtaq. Tendulkar’s under the most intense pressure, approaching his peak, wasted around Chronically hampered by a prompted an Indian 1) 119 , England v India, Old Tendulkar’s century at Old no time in taking the fight the wicket and into the rough, back injury, Tendulkar stood collapse, and another super- Trafford, 1990. Trafford was arguably even more back to the Proteas. In part- Tendulkar used his eye, his firm and refused to accept human effort ultimately In England, this series will impressive than Gooch’s achieve- nership with Mohammad feet and his innovative stroke defeat. Through dogged will ended in defeat. always be remembered for ment. India were struggling to Azharuddin, Tendulkar hit 26 play to destroy the greatest and astonishing skill, he Graham Gooch’s 333 in the first avoid defeat on the final day at boundaries in his century, slow bowler in history. Warne coaxed India close to the win- (C) The Telegraph Test at Lord’s. But that was not 127 for five, but Tendulkar batted almost all of them absolute would later admit Tendulkar’s ning line before falling to Group, London, 2008 the only remarkable batting feat for four hours with the tail to crackers. fireworks left him clueless of the summer. For a 17-year-old guide his side to safety. It was his and the Australian named first Test century, and confirmed 4) 155 not out, India v Australia, Tendulkar as No 1 in his list the arrival of a special talent. Chennai, 1998 of 50 greatest cricketers. Many of Tendulkar’s 2) 114, Australia v India, Perth, finest innings were played 5) 136 v India v Pakistan, 1992. outside of India, or in a losing Chennai 1999. Back in the days before Perth cause. But his greatest series India were set an unlikely became just another batting came at home, against the 271 for victory, which seemed track, Australia’s quick men world’s best team, and ended impossible when they col- would start salivating as soon as their plane crossed into Western Australia. In 1992, the WACA was as its most lethal, but Tendulkar’s innings of 114 brought Craig McDermott and to their knees. With tumbling at the other end, Tendulkar, still only 19, met the challenge head on. The Australian public have loved him ever since.

3) 169, South Africa v India, Cape Town, 1997. Another epic counter-attack in hostile conditions. South Africa racked up 529 in the first innings before their stellar seam attack reduced the tourists to 58

Venus closes in 2010 Olympic legacy on Doha place - affordable housing VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) by Astrid Andersson in Zurich - Temporary housing being built for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics will be convert- Third seed Venus Williams, who had ed after the Winter Games into affordable lost her last three meetings with residences for the elderly and homeless in Pennetta, won 7-6, 6-2. six communities in the province. The win will lift Williams clear of The Olympic committee, its sponsors Vera Zvonareva and Agnieszka RONA and Britco, and an unnamed major Radwanska in the race for the last two donor are covering the US$18.2 million Doha qualifying spots when the stand- (euro14 million) cost to build the modular ings are published today. homes in Whistler, which will provide space Radwanska, the worst placed of the for 640 athletes. The province will pay trio, will have to win both the remaining about US$20 million (euro15.4 million) to tournaments in Linz and Quebec, where turn the housing into 156 apartments. she is not currently entered, to deny “It’s never happened that there’s been Williams a place at the finale. an Olympic facility that has been taken and “I haven’t managed to play at the used in this kind of manner in a variety of Championships since 2002 so obviously communities,” B.C. Premier Gordon I’m excited to be healthy enough to play Campbell said on Tuesday. “We want there this year,” Williams said. everyone in the province to know that this The Wimbledon champion was made is their Olympics ... this is a legacy for peo- to work hard during the opening stages, ple outside of the immediate vicinity where as neither player the Olympics is taking place.” offered a single Olympic organizers announced this break point during year that to fulfill the requirements for the first set. Yet housing athletes in Whistler, they would Williams have to turn to a temporary facility because dominated the tie- the town wasn’t prepared to build more break, tak- permanent homes for the Winter Games. ing it 7-1. The 320 temporary units being built in Pennetta Whistler are on top of permanent space for dropped her about 2,300 athletes and officials being serve for the built by the mountain community as part of first time in its commitment to the event. the third game “We went from this temporary solution of the second to this solution that will provide a spectacu- set, then had to lar village addition for the games in watch as Whistler but a wonderful asset and legacy Williams fired for the community after the games,” said four straight aces John Furlong, the chief executive officer of to lead 3-1. the Olympic organizing committee. After break- ing again, Williams was on the wrong side of a con- troversial umpiring rul- ing on match point, but kept her cool, hitting a fierce winner on the next point before producing a final service winner. (C) The Telegraph Group, London, 2008 Venus