13 performances that gave Sachin Tendulkar 'The God of Cricket' status (Pre-2000)

Test Series in England 1996

Sachin scored two centuries in the Test series in England in 1996.

Sachin was one of the senior batsmen when India toured England during the summer of 1996. His valiant 122 in the first Test at Birmingham could not help India avoid a defeat as no other top order batsman scored even 50 in either innings.

And while the second Test at Lord's belonged to debutantes Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, his 177 in the third Test at Nottingham is regarded among his finest knocks.

Batting first in gloomy conditions, India lost both their openers with the team score at 33. Sourav, batting at number three and Sachin at number four, batted confidently and their 255-run partnership put India in a commanding position.

The partnership was the beginning of a glorious partnership in Indian cricket, and while Ganguly scored 136 and 48 in the match (along with 3 wickets with the ball), Sachin scored 177 and 74, and aggregated 251 in this match alone.

England won the series 1-0, but Sachin's batting attracted Indian-origin as well as neutral fans from all over Britain. Sachin managed 428 runs in just five innings of that series at an average of 85.60.