The left proves right again

As Tendulkar misread the Panesar arm-ball and was out lbw, names like Darbar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Ray Price, Daniel Vettori and Ashley Giles came to mind. It was the day when the international left-arm spinners’ club can proudly claim that they intimidated one of game’s most accomplished batsman all through his career.

It wasn’t the delivery of the day that Panesar bowled, but it certainly remained the wicket of the day. It was a classic case of poor judgment against a very ordinary delivery that Panesar bowled, undeserving of the 34-year-old batsman to get deceived.

In the end, it was a tragi-comic scene at Lord’s when India ‘s third wicket fell. The stiff upper lip English crowd couldn’t help but let out a roar of laugher watching Panesar’s hysterical jubilation but at the same time they also felt the need to pay somber respect to the legend who would never return here.

Vintage Tendulkar, many had said at the start of his innings. Just before his dismissal, he came up with a classic drive through the covers that signaled that he was feeling comfortable in the middle. In the end, it had to be some good left-arm spin — his palpable weakness against it — that did him in.

A bit of history here at Lord’s still has its own bit of importance, the sight of Gordon Greenidge, when he was 33 years old, coming out in the fourth innings and smashing an unbeaten 214 to help the West Indies chase a massive target of 344 in the June of 1984. It reminds us once again that age could never be the problem if a batsman, of that stature, is to find his feet for the occasion.

A win was always a far-fetched thought, if not impossible. But for Tendulkar, his outing today at Lord’s was the perfect last opportunity to help his longing desire and a mention in the Long Room that he had entertained spectators here.

Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be.