India, July 10 -- The 'Home of Cricket' bore witness to an iconic moment on Thursday as Sachin Tendulkar, one of the most celebrated figures the game has ever seen, officially rang the five-minute bell to signal the start of Day 1 of the third Test between England and India at Lord's. For a man who has touched nearly every cricketing milestone imaginable, this was surprisingly a first, and one that added another layer to his enduring legacy in the sport.

While the ceremony itself has become a tradition since its inception, involving past greats, officials, and legends from across the sporting world, Tendulkar's turn at the bell marked a special convergence. The Indian great rang the ball for a Test, which is part of the series named afte...