Watch: Sachin Tendulkar hits first ball to boundary, more than five years after picking up the bat
New Delhi : Sachin Tendulkar was referred to as God of Cricket and his retirement had left many of his fans in shock. He had said Good Bye to international cricket in 2013 but played an exhibition match in 2014.
After more than five years, his fans again got a chance to see him playing on the ground during Sunday’s Big Appeal double-header.
Sachin had announced that he would be facing 2019 Women’s Cricketer of the Year Ellyse Perry for an over on Sunday.
During the innings break he came out to play an over bowled by Perry. Starting right from where he left off, Sachin comfortably glanced his first ball to the boundary.
Check out the video below:
Sachin is off the mark with a boundary!https://t.co/HgP8Vhnk9s #BigAppeal pic.twitter.com/4ZJNQoQ1iQ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
While Australia women will take on England in a must-win encounter in the ongoing triangular series, Perry and her teammates were on hand for the celebrity-laden Bushfire match, a 10-overs-per-side affair.
Recently, Perry had challenged Sachin Tendulkar to play one over of her.
“Hey Sachin, it’s awesome to have you out here in Australia supporting the Bushfire match,” she said.
“I know you’re coaching one of the teams but a few of us were sitting around last night chatting and we thought it would be absolutely amazing to see you potentially come out of retirement for one over in the innings break out here at Junction Oval.
“We’d love to have a bowl to you and obviously fetch a few balls from over the boundary that you’ve hit.
“We thought it would be an awesome way to raise a bit more money for the Bushfire Appeal, which I know you’re already doing so much for.
“If you’re at all up for it, we’d love to have you out here -- I know there’d be some girls very keen to field some balls that you hit. So let us know, and thanks again for everything.”
Sachin Tendulkar had accepted the challenge and it looks like he made the right choice.
“Sounds great Ellyse,” said the 46-year-old. “I would love to go out there and bat an over (much against the advice of my doctor due to my shoulder injury).
“Hope we can generate enough money for this cause, and to get me out there in the middle.”
All match profits and funds raised across the weekend’s Big Appeal will go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.