Fred Oldfield, President of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), shared his thoughts on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar receiving Honorary Cricket Membership on Saturday. Oldfield confirmed that Tendulkar had accepted the membership, expressing his delight at having him join the prestigious group.
MCC’s Recognition of Tendulkar’s Contribution
Earlier on Friday, the MCC honored Tendulkar for his exceptional contributions to cricket by offering him the honorary membership. Oldfield explained that MCC awards honorary life memberships to cricketers who have made remarkable contributions to the sport. “The Melbourne Cricket Club, on occasions, awards honorary life memberships to cricketers who have made outstanding contributions to cricket not only for the country but for the world. Recently, we invited Sachin Tendulkar to join that cohort, and he has accepted it. We couldn’t be more pleased that he is part of that honoured group,” Oldfield told ANI.
MCC’s History
The Melbourne Cricket Club was established on November 15, 1983, by Frederick Powlett, Robert Russell, George B. Smyth, and brothers Alfred and Charles Mundy.
Tendulkar’s Legendary Career
Tendulkar, known as the ‘Master Blaster,’ is celebrated for his unparalleled cricketing achievements. His career spanned from 1989 to 2013, and he captivated fans around the world with his exceptional skills. He made his Test debut on November 15, 1989, at the age of 16, and his first ODI appearance followed shortly after on December 18, 1989.
Record-Breaking Stats
With 34,357 runs from 664 international appearances, Tendulkar remains the highest run-scorer in international cricket. He holds 100 centuries and 164 half-centuries, unmatched records. Tendulkar was also the first player to score a double century in ODIs and played a record 200 Test matches.
In ODIs, he scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, including 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries. In Tests, he accumulated 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, with 51 centuries and 68 fifties.
World Cup Glory and IPL Success
Tendulkar was part of India’s 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup-winning team, fulfilling his lifelong dream after making his World Cup debut in 1992. From 2008 to 2013, he played for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, leading the team to victory in 2013.
