Tendulkar was a true great, but played for an increasingly self confident country on its way to becoming a cultural and economic superpower. For most of his career Sunil Gavaskar batted for the self respect of a third world country and its despairing middle class whose ultimate ambition was a government job or a green card. The Sehwags, Gangulys and Dhonis who followed have given us ample reason to celebrate, but for most of his cricketing career Sunil Gavaskar would just make sure that millions could get up and face their bus or train commute the next morning. Happy birthday Sunil Gavaskar. You were the original rock.

The evening of Jan 20th, 1991. Steve Waugh was dismissed for 60 on the 2nd day of a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia. It was, he felt, the final straw. That evening, he was at his fiancee, Lynette's place when the Australian coach Bobby Simpson called. He had been dropped for the next test against England. Steve immediately drove over to his parent's place at Panania. When his mother Beverly opened the door, she immediately sensed something was wrong. She asked him what the matter was & he said he had been dropped. She was in tears when Steve said it was all right, he wasn't too concerned. When his ma asked about his replacement, he said, 'he's right here' & pointed to his twin Mark, chatting with their dad Rodger. Mark got 138 on debut & they went on to play 108 tests together. Happy B'day Steve & Mark Waugh!