His last match was played on this day in 1914 for Eltham v Northbrook.

Ironically, Grace did not bat or bowl, in the match – in complete contrast to his remarkable playing career where his ‘all-round’ skills enabled him to dominate every aspect of the game. With incomparable skill, his deeds with bat, ball, and in the field helped him amass the remarkable First-Class career statisitcs of 870 matches; 124 centuries; 54,211 runs; 2,809 wickets; and 876 catches.

It is amazing to think he made his final First-Class century (166 for London County v MCC) on his 56th birthday, and captained England against Australia at the age of 50 – a testament to his durability and love for the game.

WG Grace was the first icon of Cricket, and in the true definition of being regarded as an ‘expert’ on a subject, his legacy has grown since his career and life ended, nearly a century ago.

Sachin Tendulkar with the London County team at Lords. May 2006

Today, in the 3rd Test between Sri Lanka and India, at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, Sachin Tendulkar became the most-capped Test cricketer of all-time.

His 169th Test cap takes him past the legendary Australian Captain Steve Waugh.

In his record-equalling Test last week, Sachin made a double century against Sri Lanka, proving that age is not diminishing his desire to make big runs. I imagine Steve Waugh will be sad to lose his record, but the calibre of the man will appreciate the fact that such a fine player, and person, has eclipsed his record number of Test appearances.

Ironically, when Waugh’s record was set in 2004, when he played his final match at The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Tendulkar played one of his greatest innings, making a highly-disciplined 241 not out, as well as making 60 not out in the second innings. It was an outstanding performance by a great player, who had been out of form until that point, including getting out caught behind first ball in the previous Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

I was privileged to have watched Waugh’s last two Tests on my last trip to Australia, and fortunate that his finale at SCG included Sachin’s brilliant double century, where he eschewed driving through the offside for the duration of his great knock, (due to previous dismissals where he had ‘nicked off’) revealing remarkable restraint from playing one his favorite off-side drives.

It is fitting that the best player in the world should possess most of the sport’s records, but also sad for any individual whose record he has eclipsed on his way to achieving greatness.

Steve Waugh typified durability and tenacity throughout his distinguished career and for Sachin to reach 169 Test caps it reveals so much about his desire and love of playing cricket at the highest level. To maintain one’s standards for two decades is a remarkable feat in modern sport.

I had the privilege of playing against him when he was Yorkshire first-ever Overseas Player in 1992, and finding his feet as a highly-talented but slightly naiive young cricketer. More recently, through my friendship with Anil Kumble, I have spent more time in Sachin’s delightful company, and always been struck by his modesty, charm and humility.

With regard to his fame, motivation and excellence in Cricket, he gave a recent interview to BBC Radio, which I think is a wonderful example of what drives top performance in the best performers. He said:

” I don’t play for records, I play for enjoyment. That’s how it started out and that’s how it is. The dream was to play for India, and I aim to do my best every time I play. I don’t like to compare innings, I have respect for each one. ”

For the record, Sachin’s other world records include:

ODI Records:
Most Runs: 17,598
Most 100’s: 46 (his first was not until his 79th match)
Most 200’s: 1
Most 50’s: 93

Test Matches:
Most Matches:169
Most Test runs:13,742
Most centuries: 48

Many congratulations to ‘The Little Master’: a superb cricketer, a wonderful person, and a truly great ambassador for the game of Cricket.

In the 2-Test Series against South Africa, Tendulkar made 7 and 100 in the 1st Test, and 106 in the first innings of the 2nd Test. In the course of the second 100 (his 47th Test Hundred) he achieved several landmarks, in that he had scored four hundreds in his last four matches and that the hundred against South Africa in the first Test was the first at home against South Africa. The century was also his hundredth score over 50 in International Test cricket.

Tendulkar’s use of the crease, both width and depth was a joy to behold. When he sits back, deep in his crease and manages to hit some of the world’s best bowlers like Dale Steyn over mid wicket for six off attempted Yorkers, I marvel at his innovation and execution of stroke. He used the bat like a surgeon’s knife, with clinical precision bisecting the fielders at will. MS Dhoni’s brutal 60 from 32 left Sachin with four balls in the last over to move from 199 not out to 200 (147 balls)and he did so with three balls to spare. Dhoni then smashed another two boundaries to make it a 100 partnership off 54 balls and bring up a total of 401. The previous highest team score on this ground was 289. Dhoni finished with 68 from 35 balls.

I never tire of watching ‘The Little Master’ bat. He has such style and grace in his play. His body balance is superb and the commitment to the timeless principles of batting such as presenting a full face of the bat to the bowler continues to underpin his remarkable consistency.
What is similarly pleasing, is the quality of the man. Sachin is one of the humblest men I have had the privilege of spending time with. To see him around the team as ‘one of the guys’, or in London doing some shopping in the anonymity of the West End, or engaged with his family such as throwing balls to his young son at Lord’s, is to see a man happy in his skin and just like any other proud father encouraging his son’s favoured leisure pursuits.

Sachin is a wonderful example of a sportsman pursuing mastery of his art. The fame, glamour and riches are his, but play little (if any) part in his motivation to play cricket to the best of his ability. He maintains an insatiable appetite for batting and making runs. His love for the game is deep. My sense is that this is the underlying foundation which supports his exceptional natural talent. Without a deep love for a subject, it is difficult to maintain a commitment to concentrated activity over a long period of time.

With many sportspeople, once they achieve the recognition and wealth they desired from reaching the top, they find it hard to retain the same enthusiasm for the commitment to ‘the small things’ which require attention on a daily basis. Over time, a regression develops and it is very difficult to return to the top on a consistent basis. As the saying goes, to stay at number one, you have to train like a number two’ – which is often too dificult a challenge for people once they experience the distractions and the trappings of success which often go with ‘world-class’ status.

My admiration is unending for all high achievers in life. Their capacity to make sacrifices coupled with the ability to overcome disappointments and setbacks sets them apart from their rivals. Sport’s rich history highlights those who had the courage to break boundaries. 

The modern Champions of Sport are similarly exceptional and maybe better? I say this because of the nature of intrusion and public expectation has grown because of the media and communications industry has provided outlets for hype and intense scrutiny like never before. Hats off to Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher, and Sachin for being able to produce improved performances over time.

 Achievement over time attains greater respect from fellow professionals than one-off performances (however memorable), or exceptional seasons. Longevity as a Champion requires a special ability to deal with a variety of distractions. Whether they be form, fitness, health, personal relationships and also, a desire in others to knock them off their perch, the top performers maintain a focus and a commitment to mastery which sets them apart.

Sachin in Numbers*:
166 : Test Matches
13,447 : Test Runs
47 : Test Centuries
55.56 : Test Average
442 : ODI Matches
17,598 ODI Runs
45 : ODI Centuries
45.12 : ODI Average
240 : 6’s
609: Total International Matches
31,055 : Total International Runs (2nd Ponting with 24,991)
93 : Total International Centuries (2nd Ponting with 68)

* As of 24.02.10.

Lee bowled his heart out every ball he bowled. To bowl at consistent speeds around 150kph requires skill, stamina and desire. It also is a sure-fire way to bring one’s career to a premature end. Two previous Australian fast-bowling greats, Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath, cut down their pace in their latter years and became highly skilled bowlers who delivered the occasional reminder of their peak pace. However, Lee has never been as good a technician as Lillee and McGrath, despite being a good exponent of the art of reverse swing.

Australia will miss him and world cricket will mourn his retirement because a) he was a quality individual who produced top quality performances and b) there a fewer and fewer pace bowlers adorning the game.

Maybe the modern schedules will preclude us from seeing the likes of Brett Lee again? With more and more back-to-back Tests and a plethora of ODI’s, plus the advent of Twenty20 Cricket and the IPL, means that genuine fast bowlers may suffer from burn-out. In the case of the business-minded and economically smart ones, they will learn to operate at less than optimum pace to avoid strains on the body and increase the number of years in which the cash register can deposit high returns for sub-maximum output.

Lee will continue to be available for other forms of Cricket other than Tests and will have more time to commit to family and hobbies such as his love of music. He is a modern man with a taste for life which can be more fully indulged now that he is able to own his time more than any other period in his professional career. In following Andrew Flintoff’s and Shane Bond’s example, could Lee be setting a dangerous trend for Cricket, where the most hostile and threatening bowlers opt out of the primary format of the game?

Kieswetter’s cracking start begs the question, what is it about the South African upbringing which allows their Anglo-cised players to perform so well on debut for England?

Kevin Pietersen made a string of centuries in his first ODI Series in South Africa and scored two fifties against Australia at Lord’s on his Test debut. Trott made an accomplished second innings Test century on debut in the Ashes decider at The Oval. Allan Lamb (100 in his 3rd Test) and Robin Smith (96 in 5th Test and 143 in 6th Test) of a previous vintage also excelled while Kepler Wessels made 168 on Test debut for Australia v England at Brisbane in 1982. Tony Greig made 57 and 62 on Test debut (v Australia in 1972).

From the current England team Matt Prior (raised in Johannesburg till senior school age) made 126 not out v West Indies at Lord’s on Test debut while Captain Andrew Strauss (born Johannesburg) made 112 and 83 on Test debut v New Zealand at Lord’s.

Co-incidence or upbringing?

If Kieswetter, (having qualified to play for England only last week), continues his remarkable form, England may feel compelled to give him a debut in the ODI Series beginning on Sunday and if he plays well, don’t discount him being selected for a Test debut, even if it is as a batsman exclusively.

It takes significant mental courage to walk into the unknown and dominate proceedings, not to mention a high level of cricketing skill. The only sadness is we are not talking in such reverential tones about young players from Manchester, Leeds, London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Durham or Southampton, the host cities of our Test matches in the UK.