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Calcutta: Graham Gooch
was the England captain when Sachin Tendulkar authored the
first of his 35 Test hundreds, back in August 1990 at Old
Trafford. Reached for a comment on his cellphone, Gooch
(20 hundreds in 118 Tests) gladly took a walk down memory
lane for the benefit of The Telegraph’s readers.
The following are excerpts
On his first impressions of Sachin
That while everybody was talking of him as a batsman
with great potential, he was also a very fine fielder. I
think he took an excellent catch to send back Allan Lamb
in the first Test (Lord’s)?
On Sachin’s first Test hundred
He was so young (17)? I found him very composed, with
the right balance and a nice range of shots. His unbeaten
119 helped India save that Test. (After a pause)
I remember quickly marking him down as someone to look out
for. Obviously, he’d gained a lot by making his debut
in Pakistan? It became easier to handle pressure.
On what stood out in that hundred
(Laughs) It was too long ago? Off-hand, I can’t
recall anything in particular, except that Sachin wasn’t
found wanting in confidence. You’ve got to remember
we had a pretty good attack ? Devon Malcolm, Angus Fraser,
Chris Lewis ? but the 17-year-old didn’t flinch.
On whether he’d visualised just how far Sachin would go
You can’t predict? However, as I’ve said,
I quickly marked him down? Somebody with Sachin’s crease-presence
had to go far? He played the ball late and seemed to possess
a sixth sense which only some have. It makes a difference.
On his Sachin-specific thoughts in the intervening years
My own belief is that the period between 25-35 years
is the best for batsmen? He has had fitness worries, but
has emerged strong.
On the future
Depends on Sachin’s drive? Is going to depend
on his fitness, too? If all goes well, he could be around
for another four-five years.
On whether 50 Test hundreds is a possibility
If Sachin remains motivated, that’s definitely
on? If he plays for five years and averages three hundreds
each year, 50 will be reached. Simple mathematics?
On Sachin having to contend with even more pressure
Well, that may dent his ambitions? It’s not easy
being the No.1? In any case, the expectations in India are
huge? Unbelievable, really?
On Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin
I wouldn’t have liked to bowl if both were in
the XI? Gavaskar never missed out on a bad ball; Sachin
has a wider range of shots? The game, though, has moved
on from the time Gavaskar quit (in late 1987)?
Finally, on whether he would actually pay to watch Sachin
I would, not just for Sachin, but some others ---
like Brian Lara.
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