On Monday, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) celebrated the 50th birthday of famed Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar by dedicating gates to both Tendulkar and fellow cricketing great Brian Lara of the West Indies.
The Lara-Tendulkar Gates, which were officially named on Monday to mark Tendulkar's 50th birthday, will henceforth be used by all visiting players to enter the pitch.
The magnificent Sydney stadium hosted Tendulkar's first Test century against Australian opposition, and the legendary right-hander averaged a staggering 157 runs per game in five Tests there. Tendulkar has amassed 1,100 runs at an average of 100 in 13 international games at the SCG, including four hundreds, four fifty-plus runs, and his top score of 241*.
He ranks third among non-Australian players at the venue in terms of runs scored, after only Desmond Haynes (1,181 runs) and Viv Richards (1,134 runs) of the West Indies. Tendulkar enjoys playing in Australia, and the statistics back him up. There, Tendulkar scored 3,300 runs at an average of 42.85 in 67 international games. In the nation, he recorded seven century and 17 half-centuries, with a top mark of 241*.
Behind Brian Lara (3,370 runs), Virat Kohli (3,426 runs), and the West Indies combo of Desmond Haynes (4,238 runs) and Viv Richards (4,529 runs), Tendulkar is the fifth-highest non-Australian run-scorer in Australia.
"The Sydney Cricket Ground has been my favourite ground away from India." Since my first trip of Australia in 1991–1992, I have many wonderful recollections of the SCG. It is a great honour to put my name and that of my good buddy Brian on the gates that all visiting cricket players use to enter the playing area at the SCG. I want to express my gratitude to Cricket Australia and the SCG staff for this thoughtful gesture. I'm excited to go to the SCG shortly, Tendulkar said.
It was also 30 years since Lara's legendary 277-run century against Australia at the SCG in 1993, and the West Indies legend was overjoyed to receive the distinction.
"Like I'm sure Sachin is, I'm incredibly honoured to be celebrated at the Sydney Cricket Ground. "The ground holds many special memories for me and my family, and I always enjoy visiting whenever I am in Australia," said Lara, who has incredible statistics to his name in Australia, including 3,370 runs at an astounding average of 41.09 in 71 international matches, eight centuries, and 19 half-centuries. Lara has also participated in 13 games at the SCG, where he has amassed 654 runs in 16 innings at an average of 43.60, including two century and a fifty.
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