'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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Sachin Tendulkar dismissed by teenager as Somerset embarrass India

Somerset's teenage bowler Craig Meschede celebrates the prize scalp of Sachin Tendulkar at the County Ground in Taunton. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Eventually the sun came out to play and so did Sachin Tendulkar. He has received more raucous receptions but given heavy morning rain and a game going nowhere, there was a good crowd, all standing, to welcome him to the crease.

But even Tendulkar did not last for long as India's embarrassments at Taunton continued. He was dismissed for 26 by Craig Meschede, a 19-year-old all-rounder who had never taken a first-class wicket in his life before. Duncan Fletcher would not have prepared a dossier on Meschede.

Before this match he had only bowled 24 balls for Somerset's first XI with a red ball. Tendulkar attempted to drive Meschede's 28th first-class delivery and feathered a catch to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. The crowd at the County Ground were aghast. A few miles down the road at King's College, where the old Somerset stalwart Dennis Breakwell coaches, there would have been celebrations as well. A couple of years ago Buttler and South African-born Meschede were playing for their school team.

Meschede, who bowls bustling medium pace, has previously raised more eyebrows as a hard-hitting middle-order batsman. One of his Somerset predecessors, Bill Andrews, called his autobiography The Hand That Bowled Bradman. Meschede's book may be some time away – I hope – but the title could already be decided.

At least Tendulkar had looked as if his mind was on the job, unlike some of his colleagues. Moreover, his mere presence had been enough to satisfy most onlookers, who recognise that he may not pass this way again. Like Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh, who both failed miserably, Tendulkar had not been to the middle since the IPL's conclusion in May.

So he was circumspect at first, allowing the ball to pass harmlessly by. There were two lbw shouts, the first from Alfonso Thomas, the second from the ever-optimistic Peter Trego. Both were rejected. In the case of Trego this was a source of some local relief. Just imagine how often the doughty Trego in his dotage might have been tempted to regale the tale of Tendulkar's dismissal in the pubs around Weston-super-Mare. Instead that is Meschede's privilege.

Then there were a couple of regal Tendulkar cover drives off the front foot and that trademark punch off the back foot, which sends the ball across the turf with surprising power. The bars were empty and Andrew Strauss at first slip looked on contemplatively. The long wait for the rain to stop and for Tendulkar to arrive had been worthwhile. And then Meschede struck – yet another indignity for the Indian team.

This dire performance from the tourists will probably not make that much difference come Thursday but they have been abysmal with bat and ball. When play began Somerset added another 96 runs from 21 overs for the loss of Arul Suppiah for a career best 156. Chris Jones, originally from Dorset, currently a student at Durham University, compiled his second successive half-century for Somerset. The one he scored at Trent Bridge last week was in far more taxing conditions. There was also time for a James Hildreth cameo. He popped a leg-break from Amit Mishra into the stands with a flick of the wrists. The Indian bowling did not look any more threatening than on Friday. However of this attack only Zaheer Khan is certain to play at Lord's. He will be joined by Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh and one other seamer: Munaf Patel, Sreesanth or possibly Praveen Kumar, who barely reaches 80mph, but who swings the ball in almost any conditions.

It was not so surprising that India should struggle with the ball on this surface. It was staggering that they should be reduced to 90 for six against a makeshift Somerset attack, before closing on 138 for 8. Apart from Meschede and Trego, who disposed of the reserve keeper Wriddiham Saha (not such a story for him to tell there) it was Charl Willoughby, who tormented the tourists, taking the first four wickets to fall.

For the First Test VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni will be back to strengthen the lineup. We must also assume that India's resolve, fuelled by some adrenaline, will also return. They cannot possibly play like this at Lord's.

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