Flashback: When Sachin Tendulkar replied to Andrew Caddick’s words with bat
Engaging in mental warfare, bowlers use sledging/banter – fast bowlers especially – to rile up opposition batsmen. While the ploy may work against certain batsmen, legends have a different way of dealing with it, they respond with the bat. England’s fast bowler Andrew Caddick had already burned his hands by inciting Brian Lara in the Caribbean tour of 1994. This time he decided to take on Sachin Tendulkar.
Just another batsman
India and England had undertaken different paths in the 2003 World Cup. India began gingerly against the Netherlands and faced a massive defeat against Australia after which they resurrected themselves. England registered three straight wins but their forfeiture versus Zimbabwe kept them on an edge. Both teams were thus locked in a must-win game at Durban.
Tendulkar struck a fine century against Namibia and Caddick decided to attack India’s best batsman before the encounter. “India should not take pride in scoring 300-plus against Namibia. They were aided more by the nimble-fingered Namibians than their batting strength. Even Sachin did not play well despite his century. Sachin’s just like another batsman in the Indian team, and there are a lot of others in the Indian side,” said Caddick.
Tendulkar serves the punishment
With Caddick’s words ringing in ears, Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar strode out to bat. Tendulkar made his intentions clear with a boundary on the second ball he faced off Caddick. The opening pair continued to milk runs off the English pacers but eighth over was the special one. Tendulkar dispatched the first ball of this over through the leg side for a four. The third ball was short and wide, the master swivelled and launched the ball high and long over the midwicket boundary. The shot was later hailed as the shot of the tournament and remains a fond memory even today.
That’s gonna take 5 mins to find the ball. It’s in the trees, in the car park outside the ground. – Tony Greig#OnThisDay in 2003, Tendulkar against Caddick ! pic.twitter.com/GxJm7h72JB
— Ritesh (@Sachislife) February 26, 2018
Tendulkar eventually fell for 50 from 52 balls as Andrew Flintoff got him caught at point. However, 36 of these runs were scored against Caddick in 19 balls (6 fours and 1 six). The English bowler finished with the figures of 69/3 in his 10 overs with all three of his wickets coming in the final over. India’s total of 250/9 proved adequate as Ashish Nehra bowled a dream spell of 6/23. India thus secured a spot in the super six and marched ahead.
