Nasser Hussain’s Masterstroke: The Only Test Stumping of Sachin Tendulkar’s Illustrious Career
In the annals of cricket history, the name Sachin Tendulkar stands tall as a batting maestro whose mastery of spin and unwavering composure were legendary. However, even the greatest of players are not immune to the occasional lapse, and it was during England’s 2001 tour of India that former England captain Nasser Hussain orchestrated the only Test stumping of Tendulkar’s 200-Test career.
The setting was the third Test at Bengaluru, where Tendulkar, renowned for his ability to negotiate spin with ease, was approaching a century. Hussain, recognizing the need for an unconventional approach to dismiss the Indian legend, devised a clever strategy.
With Tendulkar well-set at the crease on 90, Hussain brought left-arm spinner Ashley Giles into the attack. Giles was instructed to bowl a defensive line well outside Tendulkar’s leg stump, a tactic designed to limit his scoring options and force him into an error.
Frustrated by the lack of scoring opportunities, Tendulkar eventually decided to charge down the wicket and break the shackles. In his attempt to play a more aggressive shot, Tendulkar moved out of his crease to meet the ball, but Giles had applied just enough turn to keep it away from his bat.
Wicketkeeper James Foster, alert to the moment, reacted swiftly. He gathered the ball cleanly and whipped off the bails, leaving Tendulkar stranded outside his crease. It was a moment of precise execution by both Giles and Foster, capitalizing on Tendulkar’s momentary lapse.
The dismissal became iconic, as it was the first and only time Tendulkar was stumped in his 200-Test career. The clever bowling and strategic brilliance of Giles, combined with the team’s plan, led to one of the rarest dismissals in cricket history.
