Jayadev Calamur

Don Bradman retired 4 runs short of a test average of 100. His final innings ended with a second ball duck. Interestingly, the previous innings he batted was at Headingly where he made an unbeaten 173. The Don had the option of hitting the winning runs, but thought that he would save the best for last.

And he did.

The greatest batsman ending his career on a duck is something legends are made of. If we were to look at another universe and seen him get that average of 100 or maybe, even more, we’d think, “Ah! Great batsman! What a run machine!” However, when we see Bradman, we think, “Ah! Great batsman! What a run machine! Thankfully, he’s only human. After all, he made a duck in his final innings.”

Now take a step back to the beginning of 2011. Sachin Tendulkar is in the form of his life. He’s making century after century, including the first ODI double century. He has a dream World Cup, with two centuries and the trophy. He is one short of a century of international centuries. With the form he is in, we think that he’ll get it soon.

But he didn’t.

Tendulkar’s 100^th century has become a very annoying conversation. He gets set, makes runs and misses out. In the process, he frustrates himself and the Indian fan. It’s not that he’s playing badly, although his average of 37 suggests otherwise, given that his career average is just under 56.

The good thing that has come out of this is that Sachin appears human, given that we’ve made him a divine being. We’ve given him a lot of liberties, citing his contribution to the game, which, whether we like it or not, has taken advantage of. But that is for another debate.

Maybe when Sachin gets his 100^th, maybe – just maybe – we’ll accept that he is like everyone else – a human. The record will be a great one- not that 99 isn't. But waiting for it has made the 100th century a matter of ridicule

However, if he retires with 99 centuries, the god status will stay on, despite the fact that he didn’t do too well in the last year. And given that India has elevated Sachin to such great heights, maybe he wants that for the rest of his life.