It was a typically English summer afternoon at Old Trafford — grey clouds lurking above, a light breeze rustling through the stands, and the unmistakable scent of damp grass hanging in the air. The date was August 14 of 1990, and history was quietly being written. A 17-year-old boy from Bombay (now Mumbai), with an angelic face and a bat heavier than his years, stood between India and defeat.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, just six matches old in his Test career, had walked into a crisis. India, following on, were teetering at 183 for 6, still 127 runs away from making England bat again. The surface had started to deteriorate, seam and swing offered just enough mischief, and England’s pace battery — spearheaded by Angus Fraser, Devon Malcolm and Chris Lewis — were circling like sharks sensing blood.
But Tendulkar looked like he belonged. There was a calmness about him, even when balls flew past his nose or kissed the edge of his bat. He wasn’t a boy lost in the woods — he was a craftsman at work. Every stroke, whether a punch down the ground or a late dab to third man, came with an assurance that belied his age. He found an able partner in Manoj Prabhakar, and together they defied the hosts through the evening gloom.
The pitch, by then, had turned two-paced. Malcolm tried to intimidate with pace, Fraser probed relentlessly, but the teenager remained unfazed. He got hit on the body more than once, but his resolve never wavered. Tendulkar’s short stature may have made him a target for bouncers, but it also made him an excellent judge of length. He ducked, swayed, and occasionally hooked with panache.
As he crept into the 90s, there was a hush at Old Trafford. India’s dressing room watched anxiously. And then came the moment — a crisp punch through cover off Angus Fraser. The ball sped across the outfield. Tendulkar sprinted and raised his bat. Hundred! A boy had just become a man.
It wasn’t just the runs — it was the context. India were staring at defeat, and Tendulkar’s unbeaten 119 on the final day ensured a draw. It wasn’t a flamboyant knock, but one of grit, character and immense maturity. Even hardened English journalists stood up to applaud.
Looking back, that innings didn’t just save a match — it announced to the cricketing world that a prodigy had arrived. And fittingly, it came at a venue where legends had etched their names.
That August day in Manchester remains one of Indian cricket’s most treasured memories — the day Sachin Tendulkar first wore his greatness on his sleeve.
Now, as India is all set to play their fourth Test of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy against England at Old Trafford from July 23, the memory of a great fightback will help them bounce back in the series.
Brief scorecard: 2nd Test, Old Trafford, Manchester (August 9–14, 1990)
England: 519 (Gooch 116, Lamb 109, Smith 100; Kapil Dev 3/106)
India: 432 (Mohammad Azharuddin 179, Tendulkar 68; Fraser 4/69)
India (follow-on): 343/6 (Tendulkar 119*, Prabhakar 67)
Match result: Drawn
