KEY POINTS:
Please, please, please.
This is a heartfelt plea to the Indian cricket masters, seeking assurances that the masterful Sachin Tendulkar will be on the plane to New Zealand in March.
Tendulkar put a finishing cap on a career of genius when he nudged his way to the century which led India to victory over England via a huge fourth innings run chase.
An English side that fled back home briefly because of the Mumbai terrorism will suddenly feel very weary going into the second test. Long toil against the brilliant Indians promised so much yet led to defeat at the feet of the master.
England's courageous players are under armed guard and must have fears about security that will make it hard to keep the contest up. They look ripe for a second test smashing.
New Zealand cricket should be able to celebrate though, because the first test has been a wonderful reminder that Tendulkar is on the way.
But will he come?
The sanctioned Indian Twenty20 competition starts three days after India's second and final test match here at Wellington and New Zealand is hardly a tempting port of call for the world's top teams. At 35, and after two decades of top class cricket, it might be a chance for Tendulkar to be rested.
Hopefully not. He is the finest batsman after Sir Donald Bradman by many judgments, a man who has a God-like status in cricket-obsessed India where his victorious innings may help heal the Mumbai wounds.
It will be a fantastic day for New Zealand sport if and when Tendulkar steps off the plane.
So where does he figure in history? Off the top of the head, what about this for a World XI.
Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Donald Bradman (Australia), Viv Richards (West Indies), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Gary Sobers (West Indies), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Richard Hadlee (New Zealand), Malcolm Marshall (West Indies), Shane Warne (Australia), Dennis Lillee (Australia). 12th man: Wasim Akram - the whirling Pakistani left armer who was pipped for a place by Hadlee.
