Be it a budding cricketer or captain of a Test-playing nation, everybody is an ardent fan of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. The pyrotechnics that had started as a form of entertainment has gradually made him a demi-god not only for the cricket crazy fans across the world, but cricketers in general in the last 22 years.


Darren Sammy. Pic/Suresh KK

On Sunday, young opener Kirk Edwards admitted that he was overawed to see Tendulkar batting in the last two Tests and that had shifted their focus while fielding in the Delhi and Kolkata Tests. Yesterday, it came from the leader of the opposition. Skipper Darren Sammy didn't mince words to express his admiration for the man who hypnotised the cricket world, as and when he stepped onto the field. "I also want to see him score 100th international ton, but I am praying that he gets it against Australia later this year," Sammy said.

No prizes for guessing why Sammy doesn't want the master blaster to reach the milestone against the touring West Indies side. But it's absolutely rare for a captain of a Test playing nation to admit the feeling in as many words.

"If he reaches the milestone in Australia, I would get to see it on television and jump on the couch at my home like any other Sachin fan, but if he gets it against us, we won't be able to enjoy that," the West Indies skipper said. It may be recalled that Tendulkar got his last Test century (146) against South Africa in January this year, while his last ODI ton (111) also came against South Africa in Nagpur during the World Cup in March.