Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's Test Centuries: Century 36-40

Indian batting legend had had an awful slump in form from around 2006 through to 2007 and during that period, there were repeated calls from certain quarters that he should call time on his international career. However, a man like Tendulkar, who had played cricket since 1989 was not someone who was going to listen to naysayers and he proceeded to prove them all wrong in the latter half of his career.

The sequence of his late career flourish was launched with his 36th century against Bangladesh but over the years he went from strength to strength. Here is a look at the 5 centuries he scored in that one year period.

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#5 101 v Bangladesh at Chittagong, 2007

After going through a bit of a lean patch in 2006 and 2007, Sachin Tendulkar returned to form with a century against Bangladesh at Chittagong in the first Test of the 2007 series. Tendulkar walked in to bat with comfortably placed at 124 for 2 and proceeded to bide his time before unfurling a few strokes. However, it was not one of his better innings and only contained 9 hits to the fence, as he seemed determined to end his barren run and he did so by running hard instead of going for extravagant strokes.

That being said, this century was not a slow one by any means as he scored the 101 runs in 169 deliveries and recorded a strike rate of 59.76, which is an excellent scoring rate in Test matches anywhere in the world. The match, however, ended in a draw due to rain but this century marked a return to usual business for India's best batsman.

#4 122 not out v Bangladesh at Dhaka, 2007

The second and final Test of the 2007 series against Bangladesh was an epic run fest for the Indian batsmen as all the top 4 batsmen scored centuries and India finally declared their innings at 610 for the loss of 3 wickets. Tendulkar joined the party and helped himself to his second century of the series with a fluent 122.

When he came in to bat, India had already posted 408 for the loss of 1 wickets (opener Wasim Jaffer had retired ill for 138) and proceeded to apply the finishing touches to the innings. He hit eight fours and a solitary six in his 226 balls 122 and was definitely looking good for much more.

However, India had to declare after they had crossed 600 and they did not have to bat again as Bangladesh were then dismissed cheaply twice and won the Test by an innings and 239 runs.

#3 154 not out v Australia at Sydney, 2008

This Test match is infamous for all the wrong reasons and the umpiring controversies in addition to the 'Monkeygate' affair have probably overshadowed the fact that Sachin Tendulkar scored one of his finest centuries in the first innings of the second Test match at Sydney back in 2008. Responding to Australia's 463 in the first innings, India did well and when Tendulkar walked in to bat, they were well placed at 183 for 2.

However, they soon lost Laxman and it was up to Tendulkar to steer the innings in the right direction and he did so in breathtaking fashion.

In an innings filled with superb stroke play, Tendulkar scored 154 runs and remained unbeaten till the end as India scored 532 to take a first-innings lead. He hit 14 boundaries and a six in the innings and faced up to 243 deliveries. He recorded a strike rate of 63.37 and it proved to be the right approach as India kept losing wickets.

However, his talent as a batsman was in full view as he played one of his finest innings in his career despite getting very little support from the other end.

#2 153 v Australia at Adelaide, 2008

In the 4th and final Test of the series Down Under back in 2007-08 at Adelaide, India elected to bat first and scored 526. However, the innings was powered by a scintillating knock from Sachin Tendulkar, who put the Australian bowlers to the sword in an innings that was brilliant and destructive at the same time.

He came in to bat after the fall of the second wicket at 82 and then proceeded to play one of his best innings in Australia. He scored runs all around the wicket and hit 13 boundaries in addition to three sixes to score 153. Tendulkar recorded a strike rate of 74.63 and had the Australian bowlers at his mercy throughout the innings.

His technical brilliance, the vast array of strokes and impeccable timing made Tendulkar's 39th hundred a truly special one. The match finally ended in a draw but Tendulkar's century and some enterprising lower order batting had given India a chance of squaring the series that they eventually lost.

#1 109 v Australia at Nagpur, 2008

The Australians seemed to get in Tendulkar's firing line during the period and his 40th Test century was scored against them in the final game of the four-Test series at Nagpur back in 2008. India were leading the series 1-0 and needed a draw to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat first. India responded well and scored 441 in their first innings, which was powered by Sachin Tendulkar's 109. The Australian bowling attack comprising of Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, newcomer Jason Krejza and Shane Watson were no match for him as he hit 12 boundaries in his innings that lasted 188 deliveries.

Tendulkar had not scored a century in that series by then but in the final Test, he showed his class to help India reach a score from where the match could not be lost. Eventually, India won the game comfortably by a margin of 172 runs.