A Class Apart

India doesn't need to worry about Sachin Tendulkar. He showed yesterday thathe is beginning to find his groove finally. There was more than a glimpse of histrue class; he came out wanting to spend time at the crease and a few of hisshots were more than a veiled threat to South Africa. The message would not belost on the hosts.

It would be harsh if his innings is held up as a failure or too slow for thewicket was doing a bit in the morning and it needed a skillful player tosurvive. He just bided his time with discipline. He rode through the toughperiod and a few of his shots, be it over extra covers against the spinner ordown the ground against Jacques Kallis, bore the hallmark of the littlechampion. His ability to pick up the length and hit through the line is stilluncanny.

Thus, there would be more than just a few eyes looking at the four-day gameat Potchefstroom with interest. Tendulkar would be watched closely for themaster is showing signs of return to form. I am sure he would try to make themost of it, as would be a few other Indian batters, and get ready for the Testchallenge.

Tendulkar is just about beginning to show why he is everyone's favouritebatsman, his ability to take on the pressure match after match, year after year,and by remaining the fulcrum of Indian batting. He still bears the mostresponsibility and perhaps rightly so for he has that genius factor which most,including his team-mates, don't possess.

In my several years of international cricket, Tendulkar remains the bestbatsman I have ever bowled to. It's been a pleasure to bowl at the masterbatsman even though one hasn't always emerged with credit from the engagements.There have been Steve and Mark Waughs, Mike Athertons and Brian Laras, the bestof the very best but Tendulkar, to my mind, has been the toughest. He is in adifferent category for unlike the Waughs and Athertons, he is also very prettyto watch.

You do sense a chance against somebody like Lara for he gives you a chargeand discretion can get the better of him. The most impressive thing aboutTendulkar is his temperament and how quickly he sizes up the length. Hiseyesight, footwork and the range of strokes all possess the hallmark of amaster. No less impressive is the pressure he soaks up for being an icon tomasses of humanity in India.

Dinesh Mongia, to a lesser extent, was also eye-catching and I can't believethe man is being sent back home. India desperately needs a left-hander at thetop of the order for that is the surest recipe in forcing the bowlers to adjusttheir line and length. Sending him back after the one-dayers looks a pooroption. He has looked compact and somebody who wouldn't give away his wicket ina hurry.

India could feel disheartened at how its bowling came unstuck in Centurionbut it was a flat deck and they have done enough in the series to hold theirhead high. There were also not enough runs on the board to defend. They musttake it as a bad day on what otherwise has been an excellent series for them.Injuries to Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar have also not helped their cause.

Finally, it was good to see the change being effected about which we havebeen clamouring for long. AB de Villiers was excellent at the start of theinnings and he took so much pressure off Graeme Smith. He was classy, dominantand too much for the Indian bowlers in conditions unsuited to them. Everyone inSouth Africa is hoping that the fine opening stand would allow the home toporder to turn the corner.

PTI