Tendulkar displays full range of genius

Second Test: India's icon finally reveals the extent of his attacking artistry as England concerns grow over the fitness of key players

Although this Test match probably should be most memorable for Michael Vaughan's splendid 197, those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it, in the flesh or on the box, will surely remember it for Sachin Tendulkar's 92 in India's second innings. It was an innings that only a handful of batsmen in cricket's rich history could have put together.

It was a sublime demonstration of genius, an over-used word which can never have settled more happily than it has on Tendulkar's shoulders. If a cataclysmic asteroid hit our planet and caused the art of batsmanship to be lost for ever and then, centuries later, a film of this innings by Tendulkar was discovered, it would reveal the full extent of an extinct art.

The foundation of his game is a perfect defence which in turn becomes the basis for all the attacking strokes. It would be immediately possible, too, to understand that the single most important element in batsmanship is footwork which must of course be allied to a remarkable eyesight.

Tendulkar, like all truly great players, gives the impression of picking up the line and length of a ball quicker than most. His fast footwork leaves him in the right position to play any stroke a split second before more normal mortals which is why he appears to have so much time to spare.

There were three strokes in this innings which perfectly illustrated the supreme class which oozes from Tendulkar. On Sunday evening when the light was causing problems – greater perhaps for the umpires than the players – he was facing Matthew Hoggard from the Radcliffe Road End. The ball was short and fast. Tendulkar went back and drove it with excellent timing back past the bowler for four.

He uses a heavy bat and does not appear to hit the ball hard and nor does he have much of a follow-through. If he hits the ball in the middle of the bat, the weight of willow and his timing does the rest. This ball sped away to the straight boundary and very few batsmen in the game's history could have matched it.

In Hoggard's next over he pitched one up and Tendulkar lent into it. With the same modest follow-through he sent the ball back in exactly the same place, past the umpire on the leg side of the wicket, for four. It was, maybe, an easier stroke but no one could have played it better.

The third stroke from Tendulkar which I will never forget, came soon after the start on the last day. Andrew Flintoff bowled him a short one at quite a pace and he moved across his stumps and whipped it away, wide of mid on, in a way which reminded me of Peter May in the 1950s. It was a gem.

Tendulkar's presence at the wicket had produced a full house crowd on the last day which will, of course, have something to do with the more reasonable price of the tickets. Most people will have been expecting Tendulkar to go on and on. But human nature took over and when that occasional off spinner, Michael Vaughan, tossed one up, Tendulkar was beaten in the air and bowled attempting to drive. Even he can show mortal tendencies.