Sehwag models his batting on Tendulkar

When the pair came together with the score 68 for four, Tendulkar was already set at the crease, and taking advantage of South Africa's wayward pace bowling.

Sehwag saw so little of the strike that, when the Little Master reached his 26th career Test century, his junior was still on 21, from just 28 deliveries.

The youngster gained in confidence, though, and the crowd were soon treated to some classical stroke-play, culminating in an elegant drive off Nantie Hayward to long off to bring up his half century.

Record breakers

Hayward was the victim of a similar front-foot shot, this one through long on, as Tendulkar became the youngest player ever to pass the milestone of 7,000 Test runs.

Sehwag made his way into the record books later in the day, becoming the 73rd batsman, and the 11th Indian, to score a century on Test debut.

It has long been held that, while batsmen from the old school drive their runs in the V between cover and midwicket, those from the subcontinent score around the wicket, cutting and pulling with stylish wristiness.

And it is a ploy that has traditionally seen India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka suffer when playing away from home.

Extra pace exposes flawed footwork, while movement off the seam accounts for many a victim swishing unadvisedly outside off-stump.

Gavaskar made an art form of the cover drive

Of course, there have been exceptions. Between 1970 and 1987, Sunil Gavaskar was a single obstacle standing in the way between India and defeat away from home.

Gavaskar steered clear of the cavalier shots which distinguished the Indian style - the cut and hook - and made an art form of the cover drive, but he became known as a slow-scorer in the process.

Tendulkar's brilliance has been in the adaptability of his batting. Saturday's ton took just 114 balls, making great use of home captain Shaun Pollock's decision to leave third man vacant.

But it lacked the fatal impetuosity of the Indian batsman away from home.

Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman - all impressive batsmen on the subcontinent - are often proven impotent once off India's dusty tracks.

Respect

The century was Tendulkar's third on South Africa soil. His second came in similar circumstances.

Chasing South Africa's 529 at Newlands in 1996/97, the tourists were 58 for five when Tendulkar was joined by Mohammad Azharuddin.

Although the 222-run partnership could not dig their side out of a massive hole, the pair gained the respect of their hosts as they adapted to the conditions.

They were far from rattled despite the express pace of Pollock and the increasingly riled Allan Donald.

Tendulkar gains an extra entry in the record books

That Tendulkar has also reached three figures on three occasions, averaging 46.14, in Tests in Australia demonstrates the degree to which the team rely on him away from home.

Tendulkar is not perfect. On Saturday, with a double century his for the asking, his concentration waned sufficiently to permit an ill-judged hook to deep square leg.

But he stands alone as an Indian batsman able to thrive on foreign soil.

Sehwag showed, from his first foray into the five-day game, that he has the temperament to do the same.

Should he move on from this promising beginning, the master Tendulkar may well find a vital ally in his young apprentice.