Having watched the way Sachin Tendulkar has made some of his 99 international hundreds over the years, you would have thought he’d be the last person to be affected by the fuss about making his 100th at Lord’s.
But you only had to see the nonsense that went on the last time we played there to see how the Lord’s factor can affect people.
As England players, we consider it a privilege to play at the home of cricket and I’ve no doubt all touring teams feel the same. The history, the atmosphere, everything about the place and the fact that there’s always the thought at the back of your mind that you might be playing there for the last time all add up to make the experience uniquely intense and enjoyable.
Little master: Sachin Tendulkar goes in search of his 100th international century at Lord's
But sometimes, as in our one-day international against Sri Lanka a fortnight ago, it can also make players do strange things. It was clear Sri Lanka were going to win from some way out. But I thought the way Dinesh Chandimal batted, turning down singles in order to give himself the best chance of making three figures, showed a total lack of respect for the game of cricket and for us.
Options, option: James Anderson has much to ponder before the first Test
You could see how angry their skipper, Tillekeratne Dilshan, was, shouting at his players from the balcony. But the way Chandimal carried on showed how much importance some players attach to getting on the honours board at Lord’s.
I knew Sachin had never made a century at Lord’s, but I didn’t realise his highest Test score there was only 37. I wouldn’t for a moment think he will allow the prospect of allowing his 100th ton at headquarters blur his focus.
But with everyone so aware of the milestone and the fact that he has never made a hundred at Lord’s, the hype might possibly have a detrimental effect on their side as a whole.
If they allow themselves to think too much about Sachin and what he might achieve next week, it could work in our favour.
I won't upset the Little Master
Where do you bowl at Sachin to try to get him out? There aren’t many places, to be honest. But at Lord’s this week, we will aim to starve India’s master batsman of runs and hope we hang in long enough for him to make a mistake.
One thing I probably won’t be trying against Sachin is sledging him. We won’t make him overly welcome, of course, but in my experience if you try to get into him verbally, it normally makes him even more determined to dig in.
Swanny is worse than his baby son...
Just back from a great week off with Graeme Swann and our families in Cornwall, burying each other up to the neck in sand and other fun and games. There is no doubt at all that Swanny took more looking after than his six-month-old son, especially when we wouldn’t let him have that second ice cream, and he just refused to come out of the pool when asked.
But we rarely get the chance of some proper time off in the English summer and the chance to switch off from cricket and refresh the body and mind could turn out to be invaluable for us with the challenges that lie ahead.
Swann-ing around: Anderson and Graeme Swann have enjoyed some well-earned rest on holiday
Don't think who, just think where
In my early years I was often guilty of thinking too much about who was up the other end. If I bowled to Ricky Ponting, knowing he was about the best puller in the world, I would be thinking ‘for God’s sake don’t drag one down’ with the inevitable result that I would drag one down and he would pull it for four.
It won’t be easy to ignore the roar of the crowd when Sachin comes out to bat, but you’ve just got to concentrate on where you should be bowling, not who you are bowling to.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2015529/James-Anderson-exclusive-Lords-factor-upset-Sachin-Tendulkars-history-bid.html#ixzz1SQVbodaK
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