Sachin's script written

The script was almost written the moment he played on after making 62 in Melbourne when he appeared set for a big hundred.
The disappointment was etched on his face and the anguish immediately consigned to the memory bank, ready for redemption next time around.
Great players give away telltale signs that they are in the zone and with both Lara and Tendulkar they pay extra attention to their defensive techniques before launching into their strokeplay.
I sensed Tendulkar knew the moment was upon him when he came to the crease and when he executed a perfectly balanced and watertight front foot defence.
This was an exquisitely paced innings where he used his enormous experience to evaluate the requirements of each partnership, beginning with a supporting role alongside the in-form Ganguly, before showing faith in Harbhajan and Sharma encouraging their talents by giving them the strike and exposing them to the bowling, rather than sheltering and eroding their confidence.
Tendulkar doesn't possess a big backlift which reduces the chances of a technical glitch and ensures his blade, which is 10 per cent heavier than the average comes through straight with more than enough power to pierce the gaps.
He is by far and away the best judge of a run in the Indian line-up, constantly on the prowl to steal singles and forever asking questions of the outfielders.
Quite simply he is the complete package and hell bent on making his final visit to Australia an unforgettable one.
Quality pitches produce quality matches and if the weather holds off we are in for something special.
Both teams have an opportunity to win if they can dominate two of the remaining six sessions of play.
It has been a match of fluctuating fortunes, highlighted by two heroic partnerships involving lower order batsman, illustrating how true this pitch is and a sign that the sun in conjunction with the heavy roller has binded the surface and that the expected crumbling of the soil may not be as significant as usual.
If this match is to be won it will take a special performance from one or two individuals with India turning to their spin duo Harbhajan and Kumble whose opposing styles and skill sets compliment each other and examine the techniques of batsman, especially if the pitch begins to show any variations in bounce.
Their past records suggest they have the arsenal to bowl out Australia while Australia will turn to Lee who is in career best form, swinging the ball away from the right-handers and Hogg who continues to improve each time he enters the fray, with a flipper in the mould of Warne and a wrong un that only Tendulkar has detected, appear most likely to be the match-winners.
(Legendary Australian captain Steve Waugh wrote this for the Daily Telegraph)