December 20, 2024: James Foster, the former England wicketkeeper, recently revisited the unforgettable moment when he made history by stumping Sachin Tendulkar during the 2001 Test series between India and England in Bengaluru. This rare dismissal marked the first and only time Sachin Tendulkar, who played 200 Test matches and 329 innings, was stumped in his entire career.
The incident happened during a tense battle where India‘s batting legend, Sachin Tendulkar, was in the midst of a solid knock, having reached 90 runs and looking poised for another big score. England’s captain, Nasser Hussain, had strategized carefully to curtail the potential threat posed by Tendulkar. Recognizing the danger of Sachin’s fluent stroke play, Hussain decided to deploy left-arm orthodox spinner Ashley Giles, with the intent to frustrate the Indian maestro.
Foster, who was keeping wickets behind the stumps, was part of the plan. While he had been observing Tendulkar’s movements closely, the breakthrough came when Foster noticed the subtle shift in approach during the match. He recalled, “It was a tactic to try and slow the scoring rate, to frustrate him. The night before, I was watching a show on TV that discussed the Test match, and out of nowhere, I learned that Sachin Tendulkar had never been stumped in Test cricket.”
Intrigued by this tidbit, Foster decided to adjust his position the following day. He shifted to the leg side, anticipating that this could give him a better shot at executing the rare stumping. “I stayed nice and relaxed,” he said, remembering the moment vividly. The plan worked perfectly when Tendulkar, in his attempt to step out and go for a big shot, missed the ball completely. As Tendulkar strayed out of his crease, Foster was quick on his feet, and with a swift motion, he removed the bails. Tendulkar was stumped, and it was the first and only time in his illustrious career.
Reflecting on this iconic moment, Foster said, “I actually remember it pretty well. It was a long time ago, but I can still see the sequence of events clearly. It was a brilliant piece of bowling from Ashley Giles, and I just had to be sharp and quick behind the stumps.”
The dismissal took place in a Test match that ended in a draw, but it remains a unique chapter in cricket history, one that saw Foster become the only wicketkeeper to stump Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket.
Foster’s recollection highlights the clever tactics used by England’s team to put pressure on Tendulkar. With Tendulkar taking a wild swing to try to hit a big shot, he left himself vulnerable, and Foster’s calmness behind the stumps ensured that the rare dismissal was executed successfully.
In the years since, the Bengaluru Test has remained a significant milestone for Foster, with the stumping serving as one of the standout moments of his career, and an extraordinary achievement in the cricketing world.
