'Even at 17, we knew Sachin Tendulkar would be a star' | Kiran More

Sachin Tendulkar could claim his 100th international century when India take on England in the first Test at Lord's. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

In the first Test of the 1990 series, we lost badly at Lord's after failing with the bat in the second innings. There was a lot of pressure on the 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar. He may have come into the team only a few months earlier, but people expected so much from him. Even then, there was the feeling he was going to be a star. At Old Trafford, we again didn't bat as well as we could have on a good pitch (going from 358 for five to 432 all out). Sachin made a vital 68 with the tail, but by the time he came out in the second innings (at 109 for four, with a target of 408), it looked like we might lose.

Batting on the fifth day of a Test is never easy – and it's harder still when you have a game to save. The ball was doing a bit, too. What I remember most is how positive he was. He played some magnificent shots through the covers and straight back past the bowler. Even then, he was such a good all-round cricketer. He'd run the singles and twos hard, and always had a sense of where the field was. His body language was exceptional, too. You'd never have thought this was a 17-year-old new to international cricket.

After Azhar and Kapil fell, and Manoj Prabhakar went out, I was supposed to be next man in. So I watched every ball closely. Apart from his positive attitude, it was Sachin's back-foot play that marked him out as special. To make an impact in international cricket, you have to have those shots and the way he moved back to stroke the ball through point and covers was eye-catching.

There was something of Sunil Gavaskar in the way he played, especially how still he was at the crease, and he also admired Viv Richards's ability to take apart an attack. But, even at that age, Sachin had his own style. He never let the bowlers tie him down. It's easy to retreat into a shell when trying to save a game. But, when the runs dry up, you give the bowlers more freedom to attack you.

Sachin would keep putting the loose balls away. England were on the attack because they felt they could win and he made the most of the opportunities. I've seen many of his hundreds since, but that was as good as any of them. I don't think you can underestimate the confidence it gave him, either. Your first hundred is always a milestone, no matter how gifted you are, and he made it in a difficult situation, when the team needed something special from him.

I came into the team at a time when Gavaskar was in the last phase of his career. I never imagined we'd find a replacement so quickly. Of course, we missed Sunil at the top of the order, but Sachin came into the middle order and adjusted so quickly.

I don't think any of us ever doubted he would make it. His dedication to the sport was apparent and he never stopped working hard. I was much senior to him, but, whenever we batted together, I was always the junior partner. It never felt odd because he was so composed, even as a youngster.

Kiran More, a wicketkeeper, played 49 Tests for India from 1986 to 1993

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