I received death threats after denying Sachin Tendulkar his 100th international century: Tim Bresnan

Sachin Tendulkar and records go hand in hand. The ‘Little Master’ scripted many records over the course of his career. In an illustrious career spanning more than two decades, Tendulkar piled runs for fun and his run-scoring stats prove his worth. In 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India, the ‘Master Blaster’ amassed 15921 and 18426 runs respectively.

One of the highlights of Tendulkar’s career was the number of tons which he gathered. Tendulkar’s total of 51 centuries in Test matches and 49 in ODIs are world records for the highest number of centuries by any batsman. Rewinding the clock to 2011/12, Tendulkar’s impending 100th century was the talk of the town whenever he took guard.

After scoring his 99th international ton during 2011 World Cup game against South Africa, Tendulkar only touched 90-run mark once in 2011. It seemed like Tendulkar was going to script history by smashing 100th ton of his career in that match against England. However, to his disdain, he was trapped in front by Tim Bresnan.

Recalling the moment, Bresnan said that he and umpire Rod Tucker received death threats for depriving Tendulkar the opportunity to bring up his 100th international ton.

“He was on 99 international hundreds and there were no referrals in that series because the BCCI didn’t like them. It was at The Oval in the last Test of the series. This ball, it was probably missing leg anyway, and umpire Hill [Tucker], Aussie lad, shot him out. He was on 80-odd as well [91], definitely going to get it [his century]. We win the series and go to number one in the world,” he said on the Yorkshire Cricket: Covers Off podcast.

Umpire Rod Tucker had to get police protection: Tim Bresnan

Bresnan revealed that he got death threats on Twitter and umpire Tucker had people writing to him to his home address. Tucker received proper death threats and many fans wrote to him that the ball was missing the leg stump. The situation arose to such an extent that Tucker had to get police protection.

“We both got death threats, me and this umpire, we got death threats for ages after. I got them on Twitter and he had people writing to him to his home address and stuff, getting proper death threats going, ‘How dare you give him out? It was missing leg.’ I caught up with him a few months later and he was like, ‘Mate, I’ve had to get a security guard and stuff.’ He had police protection around his gaff in Australia,” Bresnan added.

Tendulkar finally ended his century drought in 2012 Asia Cup against Bangladesh and reached the milestone of scoring 100 tons in international cricket. It eventually was Tendulkar’s penultimate ODI appearance as he bid adieu to white-ball cricket later that year. The ‘Master Blaster’ announced retirement from international cricket in October 2013 and played his final Test against West Indies.