Representing MCC and chasing a target of 294 set by the Shane Warne-led Rest of the World XI, Finch smashed a 145-ball 181 to see his side through. The Australia batsman opened the innings with Tendulkar, adding 107 runs for the first wicket before Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed his partner.

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When quizzed about what was going through his mind while walking in to bat alongside Tendulkar, Finch said: “All I was thinking was don’t run him out. Just do not run Sachin out,” Finch said. “I think it was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, crowds that Lord’s has ever had. It was a huge anniversary, Sachin’s captaining one team, Warnie’s [Warne] captaining the other.

“That was a huge day. I think there was a huge Indian presence at the ground too, they were very loud. Obviously the chants of ‘Sachin-Sachin’ going up all around Lord’s. And I just kept thinking, ‘If I run him out, I would never hear the end of this. I might not get out of Lord’s!’

“Luckily, that was an unbelievable experience, batting with Sachin, [Rahul] Dravid, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, it was unbelievable. Also on the other side was Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) and [Virender] Sehwag opening the batting, which is an absolute dream for me to watch them bat together. KP [Kevin Pietersen], Yuvi [Yuvraj Singh] got a big hundred as well. It was unbelievable, such a great day, something that I would never forget.”