After 78 ODI innings without a hundred, Sachin Tendulkar finally got his first one-day century — 110 off 130 balls against Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium during the 1994 Singer World Series. Wisden later called it 'an innings that changed ODI cricket forever.'
Tendulkar's promotion to opener in Auckland in March 1994 (in place of an unwell Sidhu) had transformed his white-ball career instantly. Between Auckland and Colombo he had averaged 47 with a strike rate above 90 — but no three-figure score. The pressure of the missing hundred was a regular topic in the Indian press.
India needed Tendulkar to convert. The Singer Series included a strong Australia attack still containing Steve Waugh and now Glenn McGrath at the start of his career.
Tendulkar had been pushed up to open by captain Mohammad Azharuddin in March 1994 in Auckland and had hammered 82 off 49 balls. The promotion stuck. By September 1994 he had crossed fifty seven times in ODIs without converting. The Singer World Series in Sri Lanka — a triangular involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka — gave him another chance against Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Tim May and Shane Warne. India batted first; Tendulkar opened with Manoj Prabhakar. He cover-drove McGrath off the third ball for four and never looked back. He reached 50 in 64 balls, accelerated through the middle overs, and brought up his hundred with a flick off the pads to fine leg. Tendulkar 110 off 130 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes); India 246/8 in 50 overs. Australia were bowled out for 215 and India won by 31. Tendulkar — Player of the Match.
Tendulkar opens with Manoj Prabhakar in the third match
First boundary off McGrath through cover
Reaches fifty in 64 balls
Brings up the hundred with a flick off the pads to fine leg
Out for 110, Australia bowled out for 215, India win by 31
March 27, 1994 — Auckland
Tendulkar promoted to opener for first time, makes 82 off 49 balls.
September 9, 1994 — Colombo
Maiden ODI hundred, 110 off 130 vs Australia.
“The relief was greater than the joy. I had begun to wonder if it would ever come.”
The dam burst. Tendulkar made nine more ODI hundreds in the next 24 months, including the famous Sharjah Desert Storm centuries against Australia in 1998. Wisden's 'changed ODI cricket forever' tag stuck because he and Mark Greatbatch effectively redefined what a fifty-over opener could be.
The end of a long, embarrassing wait — and the start of an ODI century-making career that would yield 49 hundreds, more than anyone before or after him.
Tendulkar finished with 49 ODI hundreds — a record likely never to be broken — and the Colombo 110 is remembered as the breakthrough. The R Premadasa Stadium remained one of his happier hunting grounds; he averaged over 50 there in ODIs.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
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