Sachin Tendulkar vs Shane Warne

Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne rank among the all-time greats of the game. Batsman Tendulkar owns virtually every batting record in Tests and ODIs. In 200 Test matches, he scored 15291 runs at an average of 53.78 with 51 tons, including his top score of 241 not out. In 463 ODIs, he scored 18426 runs at 44.83 with 49 tons, including the top score of 200 not out. Leg-spinner Shane Warne took 708 Test wickets in 145 matches, in addition to 293 ODI wickets in 194 matches.

Clash of the Titans

With over 1000 international wickets, Warne is acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers the world has ever seen. Tendulkar scored over 34,000 international runs and 100 international centuries, the only player in cricket history to achieve the feat. Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne met 29 times in international matches with Warne dismissing the master batsman on only four of those occasions. While Warne was an attacking bowler, Tendulkar was an attacking batsman. Warne troubled batsmen the world over but it can justly be said that Tendulkar, who played brilliantly against spin bowlers, dominated Shane Warne.

Chennai 1998

One of those dismissals came at Chennai in March 1998 when India and Australia met in the first Test of a series for the Border-Gavaskar trophy. India batted first and were bowled out for 257. Sachin was out to Warne for just four runs. When Australia batted they managed 328, acquiring a handy lead of 71 and must have seen visions of a rare win on Indian soil. Tendulkar though had other ideas. In the second innings that no cricket fan who witnessed it would be likely to ever forget, Sachin flayed the Australian bowlers, including Warne, to post an unbeaten 155 off 191 balls. Chasing 348 to win, Australia were bowled out for 168 runs, leaving India with a famous 179-run victory to relish.

Kanpur 1998

A month later, India and Australia clashed at Kanpur in the fourth match of the Pepsi Triangular Series. Batting first, Australia could manage no more than 222/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Though Shane Warne dismissed Tendulkar in that game, he did so only after Sachin had helped himself to 100 runs off 89 balls in a successful chase that culminated with India winning by six wickets.

Adelaide 1999

The third time Warne dismissed Sachin in an international match was in a Test match held at Adelaide in December 1999. Batting first, Australia piled up a respectable 441, riding on tons scored by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. Tendulkar, who captained India in the match, came to the crease with the scoreboard reading 90/3 when VVS Laxman was out. Dravid departed soon after to leave India tottering at 101/4. Tendulkar and Ganguly steadied the innings and just as India seemed to be breaking shackles, Warne had Tendulkar caught by Langer for 61, leaving India at 215/5. Further fall of regular wickets witnessed India collapsing to 285 all out. In the second knock, Australia declared their second innings closed at 239/8, setting India a target of 396 to win. As things transpired, India slumped to a 285-run defeat with skipper Tendulkar dismissed for a duck by McGrath.

Melbourne 1999

In the second match of the series, Australia batted first and scored 405. India replied with 268, conceding a first-innings lead of 137. Tendulkar’s contribution was 116 off 191 balls. Australia scored 208/5 in their second innings, setting a target of 376. It was the same old story for India who collapsed to become 195 all out. Tendulkar fell lbw to Warne for 52 and was named Man of the Match, in a game that India lost by 180 runs.