Final Innings for Tendulkar

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Sachin Tendulkar failed to make a century on what could be his final innings for India in his 200th and final Test match in Mumbai.

Tendulkar scored 74 on the second day of the second Test against West Indies at a sold-out Wankhede Stadium.

With India in a strong position at 221-3 when Tendulkar departed the home side had already established a lead of 39 and a big first innings advantage could see them not needing to bat again.

Tendulkar had begun the day on 38 and and quickly added nine runs, taking a single from the first over of the day off Tino Best before hitting successive fours off Shane Shillingford.

Tendulkar survived a scare off the fifth ball of Best's second over when he failed to get anything on a rising delivery and umpire Richard Kettleborough gave him not out despite committed appeals from the West Indies players.

A straight driven four off Best's next over gave Tendulkar his 68th Test fifty as he moved on to 52 not out as India replied to West Indies first innings total of 182.

The 40-year-old, whose impending retirement has sparked an outpouring of emotion in his homeland, is bidding for one last hurrah before bringing the curtain down on his 24-year international career.

An enthusiastic welcome from the 32,000-strong crowd set the scene for the Little Master on Friday and he did not disappoint. Having reached his half-century Tendulkar set his sights on the next landmark and a 101st career century at international level.

But there was to be no century as he perished for 74 when he was caught by Darren Sammy attempting to cut Narsingh Deonarine.

Tendulkar's tally of 100 centuries is just one of many records he has amassed since making his debut for the national side on 15 November 1989.

Tendulkar holds dozens of batting records, including most runs and centuries in both Tests and one-day internationals.

He has amassed nearly 16,000 runs in his Tests career - a total that comprises just part of his 34,000-plus runs across all forms of the game at international level.

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Sachin Tendulkar Retires

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Sachin Tendulkar will retire from all forms of cricket after playing his 200th Test next month. The 40-year-old former India captain, who retired from one-day internationals in December 2012, will end his career with two matchesagainst West Indies.

"It's hard to imagine a life without playing cricket because it's all I've ever done since I was 11," he said.

Tendulkar is the highest scorer in both Tests and ODIs, with 15,837 runs in 198 Tests and 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs.
He made his international debut aged 16 in November 1989 and last year became the only batsman in the history of the game to reach 100 international centuries.

"All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years," Tendulkar said.

He played his final Twenty20 match last weekend in the Champions League T20 final between his Mumbai Indians team and a Rajasthan Royals side led by another former India skipper, his long-standing team-mate Rahul Dravid.

Tendulkar's final appearances will also take place in India and he said: "It's been a huge honour to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200th Test match on home soil, as I call it a day."

He also holds the record for the most number of Test appearances, with Australians Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh joint second on 168, followed by Rahul Dravid (164) and South African Jacques Kallis, who is still playing, on 162.
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Cricket legends rate Tendulkar

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, N Srinivasan, said: "He is without doubt the greatest cricketer India has produced.

"In fact, one should really say he ranks among the top of all-time great sportspersons in the world. No one has served Indian cricket as Sachin has.

"He has truly been an ambassador for India and Indian cricket. He has been an inspiration for generations of sportsmen, not just cricketers.

"We respect his decision to retire, although many of us can't imagine an Indian team without Sachin."

Tendulkar was tipped for greatness from an early age, and whilst still at school in 1988 he made an unbeaten 326 in a stand of 664 with Vinod Kambli in the semi-finals of the Harris Shield.

Tendulkar fact file
1973: Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 24 April
1989: Makes Test debut for India against Pakistan, aged 16
1990: Scores first Test century, against England
1998: Scores first double century for Mumbai against Australia
2005: Passes Sunil Gavaskar's record of highest number of Test centuries
2008: Becomes the highest run-scorer in Test cricket, passing West Indies' Brian Lara's mark of 11,953
2010: Becomes the most capped player in Test history
2011: Wins the World Cup with India
2012: Scores his 100th international century in ODI v Bangladesh in March; retires from ODIs in December
2013: Announces retirement from cricket

His first Test century came in his 14th innings and was against England at Old Trafford in 1990.

There were six double centuries, the first of which came against New Zealand in 1999 and the most recent a 214 against Australia in Bangalore in October 2010, with his highest score an unbeaten 248 against Bangladesh in 2004.

Tendulkar racked up 16 Test hundreds before he turned 25 and in 2000 became the first man to score 50 international tons, while in 2010 he became the first double centurion in a one-day international.

It was hoped his 100th international hundred would be in the 2,000th Test match, which was against England at the home of cricket, Lord's, in 2011 but he was dismissed for 34 and 12 and the feat was achieved in an ODI the following year.

One of his most memorable Test centuries was an unbeaten 103 that inspired India to victory against England in December 2008and came shortly after terror attacks hit his home city of Mumbai.

Tendulkar was popular across the world, and in 1992 became the first overseas player to sign for Yorkshire, scoring more than 1,000 runs in the summer.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said on Twitter: "Perfect symmetry to Sachin's retirement: 200th Test, not confirmed, surely to be played in Mumbai. Also a charming man to deal with, which I have been fortunate to do many times."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "One of the greatest ever Sachin Tendulkar is retiring. One of my heroes and an absolute joy to play against."

And England batsman Kevin Pietersen also took to Twitter to dub Tendulkar: "Undisputed Champion of Cricket!"

Tendulkar in numbers

Test matches (198)
He has scored 15,837 runs at an average of53.86, hitting 51 tons and 67 half centuries. His top score was an unbeaten 248 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December 2004
One-day internationals (463)
He has scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83 and a strike rate of 86.23. He has scored 49 centuries (highest score 200) and 96 fifties

Twenty20 internationals
He only made one international appearance in the shortest form of the game, scoring 12 from 15 balls against South Africa in December 2006

Fact file

1973: Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 24 April
1989: Makes Test debut for India against Pakistan, aged 16
1990: Scores first Test century, against England
1998: Scores first double century for Mumbai against Australia
2005: Passes Sunil Gavaskar's record of highest number of Test centuries
2008: Becomes the highest run-scorer in Test cricket, passing West Indies' Brian Lara's mark of 11,953
2010: Becomes the most capped player in Test history
2011: Wins the World Cup with India
2012: Scores his 100th international century in ODI v Bangladesh in March; retires from ODIs in December
2013: Announces retirement from cricket

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Tendulkar Retires from ODI

Record-breaking India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has retired from one-day international cricket.

In a statement, the 39-year-old said: "I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup-winning Indian team."

The 'Little Master' made his one-day debut in 1989 and collected 463 caps.

He excelled in the 50-over format and became the world's top-run scorer with 18,426 at an average of 44.83, including a record 49 centuries.

His last one-day international cricket game was win against Pakistan in Asia Cup on 18 March, in which he scored a half-century.

His form has dipped in recent years, however, and his average in one-day cricket in 2012 fell to 31.5, a figure that was boosted by a knock of 114 in his penultimate innings against lesser lights Bangladesh which was his 100th on the international stage.

Tendulkar added: "The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest. I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future.

"I am eternally grateful to all my well-wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years."

Tendulkar, who made himself unavailable for India's Twenty20 matches after playing just one game in 2006, has faced calls to retire from all international competition from former national captain Sourav Ganguly after several poor performances with the bat in the recent Test series against England.

Tendulkar's 23-year ODI career, which began with ducks in his first two appearances, included him becoming the first batsman to score a double-century in that form of the game when he played South Africa two years ago, as well as being the highest run-getter in the 2003 World Cup.

Tendulkar excelled in India's successful 2011 World Cup campaign, scoring two centuries on his way to an average of 48.2 in the tournament which concluded with victory in the final in his hometown of Mumbai against Sri Lanka.

India spinner Harbhajan Singh saluted his colleague on Twitter: "Sachin Tendulkar, a great batsman. Great human being. A great friend. Great man to look up to. Proud Indian. Real son of India. I salute you and love you."

Tendulkar fact file

1973 - Born in Mumbai on 24 April

1989 - Makes Test debut for India against Pakistan

1990 - Scores first Test century, against England

1998 - Scores first double century for Mumbai against Australia

2005 - Passes Sunil Gavaskar's record of highest number of Test centuries

2008 - Becomes the highest run-scorer in Test cricket, passing West Indies' Brian Lara's mark of 11,953

2010 - Becomes the most capped player in Test history

2011 - Hits his 99th international century in an ODI against South Africa in March

2012 - Scores his 100th international century in ODI v Bangladesh

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Tendulkar Legend Continues in Parliament

Sachin Tendulkar has been sworn in as a member of parliament in India.

The batsman, who became the first to reach 100 international centuries earlier this year, took his oath as a member of the upper house.

He is the country's first cricketer to enter parliament while still playing.

"In the last 22 years of my international career, cricket has given me so much and I also wanted to give something back to cricket in the latter half of my life," Tendulkar said on the Board of Control for Cricket in India's official website.

"Today with the nomination, I am in a better position not only to help cricket but also other sports. It means a lot to me. I will try to help other sports.

"But I believe there will be a few obstacles along the way, and I will need from my fellow parliamentarians, the administrators, media and our countrymen. Together we can make a lot of changes."

Tendulkar was accompanied by his wife Anjali and Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla, also an MP.

Tendulkar Finally Reaches Test Ton

India's Sachin Tendulkar has become the first player to score 100 international centuries by compiling a ton in a one-day game against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

The 38-year-old completed his landmark century, his 49th in one-day cricket, with a single clipped to square leg.

After being dismissed for 114, he said: "I was not thinking about the milestone. It hasn't sunk in."

Tendulkar had twice been out in the 90s after scoring his 99th century against South Africa in March 2011.

The right-hander, who holds the record for scoring the most Test and one-day runs, has also scored 51 Test tons.

Tendulkar was immediately congratulated by the Bangladesh players after he jogged through for the single, scored off Shakib Al Hasan.

The century was Tendulkar's first against Bangladesh in one-day cricket and he added another 14 runs before departing after edging a Mashrafe Mortaza delivery to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

He added: "A year ago when I got my 99th hundred the media began talking about it. Everybody began asking me about that. It began [to get a] little difficult. I was not playing for my 100th hundred.

"I have lost about 50 kilos. Enjoy the game and chase your dreams. I had to wait for 22 years for one dream, the World Cup."

England Test captain Andrew Strauss told BBC Sport: "Sachin is a player by which all others are measured over the last 10-15 years, and for him to go out and get a hundred hundreds is an amazing achievement without precedent - it's unlikely to be achieved again."

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has also paid tribute to Tendulkar's achievement.

"On behalf of every cricket fan around the globe I congratulate Sachin on becoming the first person to score 100 centuries for his country," he said.

"This is indeed a magnificent feat and not likely to be easily emulated. The number 100 is special for a batsman and to record 100 centuries for your country is a massive statement.

"Like millions of others I have followed his career ever since he first played for India as a gifted 16-year-old and now, more than two decades later, his passion and personal records, which include more than 33,000 runs at international level, is a modern day wonder.

"Sachin is a true role model who will undoubtedly hold a special place in cricket's history."

He began his Test career as a 16-year-old in 1989 against Pakistan and scored 15 in a blood-soaked shirt after being hit in the face by a Waqar Younis delivery.

The following year he scored his first Test century, against England at Old Trafford and in 1992 became Yorkshire's first overseas signing.

Tendulkar surpassed fellow India legend Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries in 2005, became the highest Test-run scorer in 2008 and scored the first double century in a one-day international in 2010.

Tendulkar has scored 15,470 Test runs and more than 18,000 in the one-day game.

LEADING CENTURY MAKERS

Sachin Tendulkar, India - 100 (51 Test, 49 ODI)

Ricky Ponting, Australia - 71 (41, 30)

Jacques Kallis, South Africa - 59 (42, 17)

Brian Lara, West Indies - 53 (34, 19)

Rahul Dravid, India - 48 (36, 12)

Aussies to Halt Tendulkar Party

Australia are determined to prevent Sachin Tendulkar scoring a historic 100th international century for India in the second Test in Sydney.

Tendulkar has been on 99 hundreds since March 2011 but underlined his form with 73 in the first Test in Melbourne.

Australia batsman Mike Hussey said: "Everyone in our dressing room does not want him to make a hundred.

"I am nervous because the stars seem to be aligning - the 100th Test in Sydney; he's made runs here before."

He added: "It's a little bit ominous but hopefully we can make him wait until after this series and he can get a hundred in the first game of the next series that he plays."

However, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has been a successful hunting ground for Tendulkar, who has scored three hundreds in seven innings at the venue and averages 221.33.

If it does not happen in the second Test, which starts on Tuesday, former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes the 38-year-old "guaranteed" to make history during the series.

"He looked very solid at the MCG  [Melbourne Cricket Ground] on a pitch which had a fair bit of help for the quicks," said Ganguly.

"His feet have moved superbly, which is an indication that his mind is thinking the right way.

"I can guarantee you that if he keeps batting like this he will make a major impact on the remaining three Tests and probably get past that magic landmark in this country."

Seamers James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus took 19 of the 20 India wickets to fall in Melbourne as Australia won by 122 runs inside four days.

While pace bowlers have had more success than spinners at the SCG in the previous two New Year Tests, against Pakistan in 2010 and England in 2011, Hussey believes the pitch may offer assistance to the slower bowlers.

"The last few years have been really seamer friendly and there have been overhead conditions to help that as well," added Hussey.

"It looks definitely a lighter colour and generally that's the way it's gone over here; it has slowed down a little bit and helped the spinners as the game's gone on."

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took just one wicket in the first Test, is vying with seamer Ryan Harris for the final place in the Australia attack.

The last time the teams met at the SCG was in 2008, a fractious encounter in which India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was accused of racially abusing Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Neither is involved in this series.

Hussey said: "That was a long time ago and the personalities and teams have changed quite a lot, particularly in our team.

"That's gone; that's in the past. I think the players that were involved in all the controversies have moved on, even played together."