Even though India lost by 300 runs this innings of Tendulkar is rated very high – and rightly so – because of the bouncy surface and the incessant pace barrage that he had to put up with even as his colleagues succumbed meekly. Australia had already gained a winning 3-0 lead in the five-match series and led off by scoring 346. Indian openers Kris Srikkanth and Navjot Sidhu were back in the pavilion with 69 runs on the board when Tendulkar came in. On a traditionally fast WACA wicket Australia unleashed their pace quartet of Craig McDermott, Paul Reiffel, Merv Hughes and Mike Whitney who gave the batsmen no respite with their speed and hostility. But while wickets fell regularly Tendulkar still some three months short of his 19th birthday not only stood firm but counter attacked brilliantly. India slid sharply from 100 for two to 159 for eight and it looked like Tendulkar would be left high and dry with a well deserved half century. Kiran More (43) however gave him able support for the ninth wicket and the two added 81 runs before Tendulkar was out. During his stay of 161 balls he hit 16 fours. It was reckoned to be a gem of an innings and over the years hasn’t lost any of its lustre.
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