Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar dined at a popular Thai Restaurant in Adelaide last night.

I know that because my wife works there and she served him.

He was with some older men she didn’t recognise, possibly team management or local supporters.

India plays Australia in a one-day international tomorrow at Adelaide Oval.

Tendulkar is generally regarded as the best batsman in world cricket since Sir Donald Bradman, and there’s even a case to say he’s the best batsman to have ever played the game.

Bradman’s statistics are awesome, but world cricket didn’t have much depth in his day and he didn’t play as much cricket overseas. I don’t think he toured anywhere except England.

The Tongue Thai’d restaurant is at 50-54 Henley Beach Road, Mile End, close to where we used to live. According to the Your Restaurants guide:

This little Thai joint opened in early 2005 and has been jam-packed ever since. There is no secret behind the success of this venture; the difference between it and its contemporaries is obvious. The timber-floored space is accented with bright red lighting and furniture as fiery as their spicy chilli jam, and both the interior and the outdoor heated courtyard are generally abuzz with lively chatter. Chef and co-owner Pichai Ngoensawang creates authentic Thai dishes from his homeland, stubbornly insisting on only the freshest ingredients, with no MSG or preservatives used. Everything on the menu is made fresh to order, from the spring rolls and fish cakes to the masaman curry. The difference is evident in the taste, which packs a fair punch without relying on heat for impact.

It’s interesting that Indians would visit a Thai restaurant, but not surprising I guess. We’d be unlikely to visit an Australian restaurant while visiting India.

My wife said Sachin obliged with photos and autographs throughout the evening, but she never thought to do so herself!

As far as I know, that game is considered a Test for statistical purposes.

Adelaide Oval on the first day of the Test match between Australia and India, viewed from the Bradman Stand.

I also saw Zimbabwe play Australia at the SCG, but most of my Test match viewing has been at the MCG.

I’ve been to the Adelaide Oval for T20 state games, but this was my first time for international cricket. I went with young Michael, who was seeing his first day of Test cricket, aged 15, although he has been to an ODI game previously at the MCG.

Adelaide Oval is considered by many to be the most beautiful ground in the world, but from pictures I’ve seen, surely Newlands in Cape Town carries that mantle.

That said, Adelaide is a terrific place to watch cricket.

We sat in the Bradman Stand, out of the scorching sun, with a good view down the wicket. My father always watched cricket from “behind the bowler’s arm”, paying for premium seats in the old Southern Stand at the MCG.

He went to the cricket with a pair of binoculars, which were pretty handy in the days before big-screen replays.

The Bradman Stand is a strange construction, mainly designed I believe for corporate boxes. There seems to be a lot of wasted space and the actual room for ordinary spectators is fairly limited. The stand is being knocked down as part of the redevelopment, which will increase official capacity from around 32,000 to 50,000.

The total crowd on Tuesday was 20,000, about 6000 less than at the Big Bash game I went to in December. It was a good roll-up though considering the 36-degree heat.

Test cricket demographics

What struck me most about the crowd was how old most people were and how the vast majority were men.

Maybe the demographics were different in the Chappell Stand or on the hill, but in my area at least I felt young at 45.

I understand that’s pretty much the case for Test cricket; that most followers are men aged over 30. Hence the marketers are investing so much in the Big Bash to attract younger fans and women.

At the Big Bash though, spectators don’t clap the umpires out for the start of play; they don’t applaud any scoring shots by the opposition and they’re only interested in fours and sixes.

At Test cricket, spectators know when partnership milestones are reached and they show appreciation of good skills by visiting players. Those things are surely taught by elders and happily my son was monitoring partnerships.

I prefer Test cricket, which confirms the marketing stereotype, I guess.

As for the actual play, we saw more than 300 runs scored in a day and twin centuries by Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting, so no complaints about the entertainment value.

I’ve criticised the captaincy of Clarke and Ponting before, but their batting is top notch.

I can’t say the same for India’s attack though. They looked very ordinary after the first session, apart from Zaheer Khan.

With Australian cricket at arguably its lowest point for 25 years, players have no time to prove themselves, prepare or find form in the Sheffield Shield before the major Test series against India.

I quite enjoy T20 cricket myself and believe there’s a place for it in the modern game, but not at the expense of traditional cricket or player performance.

The whole franchise system worries me too.

The South Australian franchise, Adelaide Strikers, played in blue last week while half the crowd appeared in red, which is the color of the state Redbacks.

There can be little “club” loyalty given that state players turn out for whoever offers the best contract, and even that is only for one year.

Mediocre players are being paid big money; some earn their living just from appearing in T20 tournaments around the world.

I can’t see this format succeeding in the long term. It wouldn’t surprise me if it goes the way of baseball and basketball … start with a bang and then fade away.

The danger is that damage may be done to cricket at other levels. People are already losing interest in one-day internationals and Test interest will wane further if performances drop and the overall cricket brand is tarnished.

The tournament should remain based on state teams, albeit under commercial licence. The two extra teams should have been in Canberra and Geelong instead of Sydney and Melbourne.

The matches should be played in March after the Sheffield Shield final. There may be some overlap with football, but that’s tough.

The number of ODI matches should be reduced to accommodate T20, which should remain provincial in focus, rather than international.

As it currently stands, cricket authorities risk undermining the system that produces the talent, which people want to watch. They also risk burning out and confusing patrons and viewers.

Hadlee wasn’t express pace, but he was fast and he moved the ball through the air and off the seam.

He spearheaded a successful New Zealand attack that included Lance Cairns, Ewen Chatfield and John Bracewell.

I first saw Hadlee play for New Zealand against a Victorian Country XI at Traralgon on November 5, 1980 and obtained his autograph.

I either had a day off school or took one, because I remember the match quite well. The scorecard is available here.

New Zealand batted first and made 221 runs in 50 overs against a modest attack.

At that time I was mainly interested in Kiwi batsman Bruce Edgar, who had a reputation, and I sought him out after his innings of 30 runs.

I recall saying to him: “Well batted” while asking for his autograph and he simply replied: “Thanks”.

Hadlee was known to me, but wasn’t quite the star he became. Nevertheless I ventured forth and asked for his signature. I don’t believe he said anything at all.

On that day he bowled four overs, with one maiden, and took no wickets for five runs.

Hadlee went on to take 431 wickets in 86 Tests at an average of 22.29. What a player.

Here’s a video that tells the early stages of his career:

The game at Traralgon was not very exciting and didn’t attract a big crowd.

Two years earlier I went to the same ground with my Dad to see a World Series Cricket match between Australia and the Cavaliers.

The ground was packed that day. I sat inside the boundary and watched legends like Max Walker and Sarfraz Nawaz. The scores were disappointing though. Australia made only 183 in 50 overs, then bowled out the Cavaliers for 85.

I remember there was some controversy about South African Eddie Barlow playing for the overseas team, given apartheid restrictions were in place. Unfortunately the great man, then aged 38, was dismissed for a duck.

The atmosphere was much more subdued two years later when New Zealand took on a local XI, however the scores were closer.

After compiling 221 the Kiwis bowled out the country team for 124.

The fact I remember this match 31 years later shows the value of country games.

They also provided an opportunity for country stars to test themselves against the best in the world, potentially uncovering a hidden talent.

Those days are gone, but I still have the official program from 1980 and the autographs of two New Zealand Test players.

The general admission price to see the international game on Wednesday would have been $97.

There has been some media discussion about Australia’s performance in comparative terms.

A caller to ABC Radio suggested this was the “worst Australian team ever”, which drew a rebuttal from Jim Maxwell that 1978-79 was a more insipid performance.

My immediate reaction was to disagree with Maxwell on the basis that in 1978-79 Australia had a developing team of youngsters, rejects and loyalists.

The best players of the era were mercenaries/trailblazers with Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, forsaking the baggy green for a yellow cap and cash.

That summer, at the age of 12, was also the first time I took any interest in the national side and Allan Border became my boyhood hero.

I wonder if any new members of the current Australian side will become heroes to a generation?

Australia lost the 1978-79 series 5-1 and went down 3-1 in 2010-11 in a shorter series. I doubt there is anyone, however, who doesn’t believe England would have won the current series 5-1 if two extra tests were played in Sydney and Melbourne or Hobart.

Starting team

1978-79: Graham Wood, Gary Cosier, Peter Toohey, Graham Yallop, Kim Hughes, Trevor Laughlin, John Maclean, Bruce Yardley, Rodney Hogg, Allan Hurst, Jim Higgs.

2010-11: Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus Northe, Brad Haddin, Mitch Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Rodney Hogg starred with the ball in 1978-79.

Comment: I would back the 1978-79 side in a contest between the two. The vintage team had a suspect top order, but Wood, Yallop and Hughes were class players. The bowling attack was much stronger and better balanced than today’s line-up.

First Test at Brisbane

1978-79: England won by seven wickets after an Australian batting collapse in the first innings. Australia batted reasonably well in the second dig, with centuries to Yallop and Hughes. Hogg took seven wickets for the match and Hurst four.

Points: England 6 Australia 4

2010-11: Match drawn. Hussey and Haddin scored centuries, Siddle took six wickets. England amassed 1/517 in their first innings.

Points: England 5 Australia 5

Second Test

1978-79 (Perth): England outclassed Australia to win by 166 runs. Hogg took 10 wickets, Hurst and Yardley four each as England were dismissed twice. The batting failed twice, with only Toohey and Wood scoring half centuries.

Points: England 7 Australia 3

2010-11 (Adelaide): England won by an innings and 71 runs. Hussey and Watson both scored two half centuries, but nobody made a ton for Australia on a good batting deck. Harris was the “best” bowler with 2/84.

Points: England 8 Australia 2

Third Test

1978-79 (Melbourne): Australia won by 103 runs. Wood made a century and Border 29 on debut. The bowlers dominated, with Hogg taking 10 wickets and Dymock five.

Points: Australia 7, England 3

2010-11 (Perth): Australia won by 267 runs. Hussey scored 61 and 116, Watson made 95 in the second innings. Johnson and Harris snared nine wickets each.

Points: Australia 8 England 2

Fourth Test

1978-79 (Sydney): England won by 93 runs after Australia collapsed for 111 chasing 205 for victory. Border scored 105 runs without being dismissed and bowled 23 overs. Higgs took eight wickets.

Points England 6 Australia 4

2010-11 (Melbourne): England won by an innings and 157 runs. Australia made just 98 in the first innings and 258 in the second. Siddle took six wickets.

Points: England 9 Australia 1

Fifth Test

1978-79 (Adelaide): England won by 205 runs. Australia’s batting failed in both innings. Hogg and Hurst took seven wickets each.

Points: England 8 Australia 2

2010-11 (Sydney): England won by an innings and 83 runs. The only batsmen to make half centuries were all-rounders Johnson and Smith. Johnson took four wickets.

Points: England 9 Australia 1

Sixth Test

1978-79 (Sydney): England won by nine wickets. Australia’s batting again failed twice to pass 200, even with Yallop contributing 121 in the first innings. Higgs took five wickets for the match.

Points: England 8 Australia 2

Points tallied (subjective measure):

1978-79: England 38 (6.3 average) Australia 22 (3.6)
2010-11: England 33 (6.6) Australia 13 (2.6)

Comments: The 1978-79 team failed regularly with the bat, but was frequently in a winning position. The best-performing batsman (Yallop) scored less than Hussey and Watson in 2010-11, but more than any other Australian this summer.

The big difference between the two teams was the bowling. The 1978-79 side proved itself capable of dismissing England twice in a match. Hogg took 41 wickets, Hurst 25 and spinner Higgs 19. The “best” bowler in 2010-11 was Johnson 15.

The 1978-79 team had class players who performed well in Yallop, Hogg and Higgs. Promising youngsters included Wood, Hughes and Border, while Yardley and Dymock also went on to be successful Test players.

The 2010-11 team had good contributions from Hussey, Watson and Haddin, with a match-winning cameo from Johnson, otherwise the efforts were “solid” at best, eg Siddle and Harris.

It remains to be seen if any of the youngsters from 2010-11 go on to be as good as Border and Hughes, but on bowling strength alone the 1978-79 team was a better outfit.

At least after the 1978-79 humiliation Australia rose from the ashes. It’s hard to be sure the same improvement can be expected any time soon in 2011.

Some unwanted records from 2010-11

• England won three matches in the series by more than an innings.
• England made its highest-ever innings score in Australia (644).
• England made four scores above 500 in a series for the first time.

He started his career as a batting allrounder, but didn’t bowl much after his test debut in 1978.

However, he had great success with the ball against the West Indies, including a match-winning 11 wickets (shown below).

For the record, Border finished with 39 test wickets at an average of 39.1. His first-class record was 106 wickets at 39.25.

He still cops flak about the decision from some of the (ex) players’ wives, apparently.

However, it puts into context the decision by current Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke to return home from a tour of New Zealand to support his girlfriend model, Lara Bingle.

Bingle is said to be so distraught over former sexual partner Brendan Fevola distributing a nude photo of her that she’s suing him for an undisclosed amount.

Clarke’s unprecedented decision leaves the touring team with just 12 men.

Earlier, Australian cricket management had simply stated that Clarke was heading home for “personal reasons”.

His manager Chris White, told The Punch today: “Michael has come home to support Lara through this tough time.”

Society has changed since 1989, when I was 22, but my sense of perspective hasn’t.

Clarke has abandoned his teammates to be with his upset girlfriend, not a dying relative. He has left his workplace.

Since when did “upset girlfriend” qualify for personal leave?

An employer should be reasonably compassionate, but under Clarke’s rules, anything goes.

Bugger your work colleagues (fellow players) and customers (spectators). They can go to hell. A girlfriend is more important.

Michael Clarke, you don’t deserve to be captain of Australia.

Mike Coward relives the moment in The Australian.

Kids today are so used to Australia winning they can’t relate to the turmoil that existed in cricket at that time.

The establishment had just been reunited with the World Series rebels and it was an unhappy alliance.

Hughes was the favorite son of the old school, but never won acceptance from the WSC professionals like Ian Chappell, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee.

He was a marvellous batsman though.

The other nations were stronger then than they are today, especially West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand.

Allan Border was my favorite cricketer and he was Hughes’ deputy at the time of the meltdown. He subsequently became the reluctant skipper and set about reviving Australian cricket.

Coward writes: Border, who was destined to succeed Hughes and spend 10 years building a foundation for the future prosperity of Australian cricket, realised something was amiss with Hughes earlier in 1984 in the Caribbean. Indeed, he is on record as saying he returned to the team hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica to find Hughes half cut with his hair braided and watching cartoons on television. “I thought then: Kim, you’ve lost the plot.”

Seeing Hughes cry on national television was a moving experience. People didn’t know how to take it. A bit like the abdication of Edward VIII.

I think he lost a lot of support, not for the act of crying, but for walking away from the disaster and compounding the crisis.

Border didn’t want the captaincy. I recall speculation that David Hookes might be given the job.

Although it was a rough time for Australian cricket, it was also the turning point that began the rebuilding process — one of those unforgettable moments that sport throws up occasionally.

• Audio blog (phlog)

Peter Roebuck has suggested they may be better off forming national sides based on their countries, eg Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, etc.

If they can’t get their act together as a confederation that may be the way to go.

There are only four top-rung nations at the moment: Australia, England, South Africa and India.

The second rung comprises Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies.

There is a third rung that includes Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kenya, Scotland and Ireland.

Beneath that are the current Associate nations and developing countries, some of which show considerable promise.

Some articles in the Australian press recently have focused on the game’s potential in China.

That’s great, but don’t forget Kenya needs support, Uganda shows hope to improve, Papua New Guinea has structures in place already and Indonesia also has great potential.

There was an interesting blog article earlier this month on cricket’s prospects in Indonesia.

“Former Surrey left-arm-spinner Keith Medlycott thinks giving Indonesian cricketers exposure to longer forms of cricket and continued coaching would bring huge rewards for the game after leading the Marylebone Cricket Club on a four-game tour of the country last month.”

It’s great the MCC is touring to countries like Indonesia and I hope it’s true the game is developing there beyond expatriates.

If it is true, Australia should be taking the lead and actively encouraging the sport.

There have been suggestions that China is on the brink of major cricket development. I hope that’s right and, if so, it’s worthy of Australian support.

In the meantime, if the game can be assisted in PNG and Indonesia, Australia should play a key role.