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Often when it comes to those favourite memories, only snatches of them remain.

An image of the great Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, hand on his forehead, staring at the batsman ahead of him, completely nonplussed, wondering what to do and even if he knew, how to do it.

The late and great Tony Greig in that excited baritone, screaming after Sachin Tendulkar hit a towering six, "There all dancing in the aisle right now... Sachin Tendulkar... What a player... what a fantastic player."

The Little Master scampering back towards the non-striker's end... and then raising his bat at a 45 degree angle, getting the century, turning back, kissing his bat and looking towards the crease again in single-minded devotion.

A dust storm hitting the Sharjah Cricket Ground, as if to add a sense of fable to add to a momentous occasion. Dust swirling around everywhere, making it look apocalyptic, with even Sachin Tendulkar forced to crouch on the ground, submitting to nature's fury. And then once it had cleared, reacting as if nothing had happened and teeing off again.

India losing, but no one really caring. Sachin Tendulkar scoring 143 off 131 balls, guiding the team to the finals and then losing his wicket. A Desert Storm if there ever was one.

Except, two days later on his birthday, he went one step further. But that's a story for that day.