The following is an extract from Test Match Cricket: C4 and the ECB's official guide to the 1st Test between England and India at Lord's, available at the ground throughout the match.

Channel 4's Ravi Shastri recalls the first of many three-figure scores at the highest level for Tendulkar, an unbeaten 119 against England at Old Trafford in 1990 that saved the Test for his side.

“Two things spring to mind about that innings: first, Sachin was very young, just 17, which made him the youngest player ever to score a Test hundred in England; and when he came in, India were in trouble.

It was the last day, and although the pitch was still a fairly good one, we were battling to save the match: we had slipped to 183-6 just before tea. That meant there were plenty of fielders in attacking positions, but even allowing for that, the fact Sachin was able to play the type of innings he did from that situation, making a hundred in two sessions, really did show his ability.

“We all knew then that here was someone who was going to be a great player. I’d been lucky enough to get an early look at his talent when I was captain of Bombay and first saw him at the age of 14 or 15.

“Even at that age what struck you straight away was how quickly he improved, learning from every game. And he never wanted to be out of the action. If he wasn’t batting, he wanted to bowl or he was buzzing around in the field.

“Whatever the opposition threw at him at Old Trafford he was never unsettled. But that was no surprise to us: we’d already seen him make his debut in Pakistan against a side including Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir, when he was 16.

“He really was given the Full Monty in that series but my abiding memory is of him being hit in the face by Waqar Younis and then bouncing back into line for the next ball and making a half-century.

“I really do believe that although he’s been at the top for more than a decade, the best is yet to come from Sachin. He’s under pressure every time he goes to the crease. But now there are some new, aggressive youngsters on the block, players like Mohammed Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, I think that can only help Sachin.

“In the past he may have thought that if he failed the whole side would fall down, but the fact these newcomers are playing with so little fear and dominating sides will take the pressure of him in a big way.”

24 Jul, 2002