Dubai During his illustrious career, Sachin Tendulkar has been no stranger to landmarks and anniversaries.
However, the last one that he would have bargained for was that of one year since he scored his last, and 99th international century, on March 11, 2011 during the World Cup.
It was a classy effort of 111 against South Africa in a group league game, which the Men in Blue lost even though they finally laid their hands on the coveted trophy on April 2 at the Wankhede Stadium — helping the Little Master realise a dream nursed over his entire career and five World Cups.
However, the wait for the 100th ton ever since has been exasperating to say the least — while yet another opportunity knocks in the shape of India's opening tie in the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka in Dhaka Tuesday.
Tendulkar, incidentally, did not play an ODI since the World Cup final until he was named in India's squad for the CB Series after the Test debacle in Australia. The intervening period included four one-day contests, against West Indies and England home and away.
Best shot
Injury did play its part, with Tendulkar being ruled out of the one-day series in England. In 11 One-Day Internationals since that century in Nagpur, Tendulkar has made 301 runs at an average of 27.36, during which his best shot at the elusive hundred was a chancy 85 against Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final.
There is no gainsaying that his inclusion for the ongoing Asia Cup — on the slower tracks of Bangladesh — has been certainly influenced by the thought that it would be his best chance to get the monkey off his back. The calls for retirement from limited overs cricket, however muted, have certainly not escaped his ears and he will be keen to show a customary sense of occasion before making the announcement.
Modest average
In the 11 Tests over last year, Tendulkar scored 778 runs at a somewhat modest average of 37.04 by his standards, with a best of 94. He came close to scoring that unprecedented 100th hundred a couple other times too; at The Oval he made 91 and in Sydney he reached 80. The innings of 94 was the best chance he had of getting to three figures — Tendulkar came out on the fourth morning in Mumbai in robust mood — but an impulsive jab to third man ended up in the slips.
