Is it Nelson blocking SRT's Century of Centuries?

Oh well, it has been one whole year since Sachin scored his 99th international century! His last year long century drought was 20 years back, 1991, between his first and second test centuries. It was the Group B game against the South Africa on March 12th, 2011 that a line in scoreboard read:

SR Tendulkar

c Duminy b Morkel

111

India could only muster 29 more runs to their total after he got out at 2-267 (39.4 overs). Rest is history! The Proteas successfully chased and won that game.

The score of 111, also called Nelson, is one of the most notorious superstition in cricketing world. It has long been considered unlucky, for the number looks like three stumps without bails. Even 111 multiples, 222, 333, etc. are considered unlucky. Now what do they look like?

This wasn't his first Nelson in international cricket. Last year he completed a hat-trick of Nelsons, probably the only cricketer to ever achieve this feat. Spooky as it may sound, all 3 of his Nelson's have come against the same country. And the best result India managed in those games has been a draw!

South Africa had its own bizarre brush with Nelson recently: A Nelson of Nelsons. At 11:11am on November 11, 2011 (i.e. on 11/11/11), South Africa needed 111 more to win the first Test Match of the series against the Kangaroos. Though the runs needed for victory at that mark weren't anticipated, Cricket SA took no chances and instead took a leaf out of Umpire David Shepherd's book. You see, it was David Shepherd, admittedly the universally loved cricket umpire, who brought notoriety to poor Nelson but also practised the quirky hop and/or one-leg-lift to counter Nelson's bad effects. Following the Cricket SA's shoutout for one-leg-lift to mark the super Nelson, the whole nation was literally on one foot for a moment. Result: A 8 wicket victory for the Proteas. One might even say Mandela is not the only historical "figure" with the name Nelson associated with it.

 (Picture Courtesy: Waiting at the Gate: From fmgbain @ Flickr.com under Creative Commons License.  Image copyright Henti Smith Photography)

It has been a prolonged pursuit including the recent drubbing Down-under. However, just like the hope portrayal in this wonderful picture taken by Henti Smith to mark 11/11/11, billions on cricket fans worldwide have been waiting with hope for 100th Ton by Tondulkar. Throughout his long stellar career, SRT has had a simple mantra "One has to keep on trying" . So every time he puts his feet on the cricket ground trying for the elusive milestone for the umpteenth time, maybe all SRT-faithfuls should quietly lift their feet off the ground to counter the Nelson effect!

Reader Reaction Referendum: Ever since it was announced that Sachin will be playing Asia Cup, I have wondered about what would critics will say if the 100th ton comes against Bangladesh? Tell me will it reduce the lustre of the century of centuries for you? Or maybe the already prolonged pursuit and the drubbing Down-Under already has?