Swapnil Shah,a cricket fan from Bombay,currently in USA for higher studies and a regular visitor to my blog recently posed a very interesting query. Swapnil wanted to know if Sachin Tendulkar has ever been not out at the end of fourth innings - in matches that India have won, lost, and drawn?
"This is particularly relevant because it is a common belief that throughout his career, Sachin Tendulkar is always believed to have faltered in key matches/ situations. And, also, the match is never over until Sachin Tendulkar gets out !!" Swapnil further emphasised in his email.
Frankly speaking, I had no idea about Tendulkar's performance in the fourth innings of a Test match when I sat down to compile the stats. But it turned out that it is none other than Tendulkar himself, who emerges at top -atleast in matches won by India.
"This is particularly relevant because it is a common belief that throughout his career, Sachin Tendulkar is always believed to have faltered in key matches/ situations. And, also, the match is never over until Sachin Tendulkar gets out !!" Swapnil further emphasised in his email.
Frankly speaking, I had no idea about Tendulkar's performance in the fourth innings of a Test match when I sat down to compile the stats. But it turned out that it is none other than Tendulkar himself, who emerges at top -atleast in matches won by India.
Tendulkar has,however,never remained unbeaten in the fourth innings in a match lost by India,which proves Swapnil's point that match is never over until Tendulkar gets out.
Most times not out in the fourth innings for a winning cause:
SR Tendulkar 6 times
R Dravid 5 times
SM Gavaskar 4 times
SC Ganguly 3 times
(7 players with 2 such occasions) Most times not out in the fourth innings for a losing cause:
BS Chandrasekhar 9 times
J Srinath 5 times
BS Bedi 4 times
RJ Shastri 3 times
S Madan Lal 3 times
P Sen 3 times
SMH Kirmani 3 times
Most times not out in the fourth innings in a drawn affair:
DB Vengsarkar 8 times
M Amarnath 5 times
Kapil Dev 4 times
S Madan Lal 4 times
SR Tendulkar 3 times
(8 other players with 3 such instances)
