Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, Sachin Tendulkar's illustrious career saw him accumulate nearly 16,000 Test runs. Tendulkar also holds the record as India’s highest run-scorer in Australia. However, when an 18-year-old Tendulkar toured Australia during the 1991/92 season, he was far from a household name.
On the eve of India’s warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI, Greg Rowell, an Australian lawyer and former first-class cricketer, shared a poignant story about dismissing Tendulkar in that very match 23 years earlier.
Rowell, a fast bowler, not only took Tendulkar’s wicket but also dismissed seasoned all-rounder Ravi Shastri during the game, finishing with remarkable figures of 7/27.
“At that time, Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t a big name. Ravi Shastri was the star,” Rowell recalled in an interview with The Indian Express. “But by the end of the series, I certainly knew who Tendulkar was,” he added.
Despite India’s heavy 4-0 loss in the five-match Test series, the teenage Tendulkar left an indelible mark on Australian soil. Emerging as India’s top scorer in the series, he tallied 368 runs, including two centuries, showcasing his immense potential.
Shastri, too, performed impressively, amassing 300 runs in just three matches, securing the position of India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series.
Rowell was part of a Prime Minister’s XI featuring future Australian legends such as Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Damien Fleming, and Damien Martyn, with Allan Border leading the side.
“The game was televised nationwide, making it a platform for first-class players to showcase their talent to the country,” Rowell explained.
While Rowell’s cricketing career peaked with his selection for Australia A, it didn’t lead to long-term success in the sport. Transitioning to a legal profession, he eventually became a board member of Cricket Australia.
For Rowell, the memory of that game remains vivid—a moment when he faced a young player who would soon become a global cricket icon.