Sydney Cricket Ground new gates mark Tendulkar's 50th birthday
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) used legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's 50th birthday celebrations to unveil gates at the iconic Australia venue that are named after the India legend and fellow cricketing great Brian Lara from West Indies.
All visiting players will now take the field through the newly-named Lara-Tendulkar Gates, with the duo bestowed with the honour on April 23 to coincide with Tendulkar's 50th birthday. Tendulkar's first Test century on Australia shores came at the picturesque Sydney venue and the champion right-hander averaged a whopping 157 from five Test matches at the ground.
Tendulkar loves playing in Australia and numbers prove it. In his 67 international matches there, Tendulkar scored 3,300 runs at an average of 42.85. He scored seven centuries and 17 half-centuries in the country, with the best score of 241*.
"The Sydney Cricket Ground has been my favourite ground away from India," Tendulkar said as quoted by ICC.
"I have had some great memories at the SCG right from my first tour of Australia in 1991-92. It is a great honour to have the gates used by all visiting cricketers to access the field of play at the SCG named after me and my good friend Brian. I would like to thank the team at SCG and Cricket Australia for this kind gesture. I look forward to visiting the SCG soon," added Tendulkar.
Recently, the cricket legend revealed that it was an emotional moment for him to see his mother on the big screen for the first time during his last-ever international match.
The occasion of the 25th anniversary of his iconic "Desert Storm" innings was held in Mumbai.
"I had played for so many years but my mother had not seen any of the matches, before that (last Test) match. I told my mother you have to come. Due to her physical challenges, it was difficult for her to come but she said that she would come for me, and she was there in the wheelchair. It was a big emotional moment when they showed my mother on the big screen," Tendulkar said.
(ANI)