Tendulkar thinks of more tons

Ashish Shukla

With three man-of-the-match awards from four matches in the ongoing triangular series in Harare, Sachin Tendulkar says he is extremely keen to "score more and more hundreds", a statement certain to ring alarm bells for the other finalist, the West Indies.

"I am not easily satisfied. I want to score many more hundreds," said Tendulkar on Wednesday, after his unbeaten 122 shaped India's six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the last league match.

Tendulkar's 29th one-day international hundred, was the first of the six-week tour, during which he played two Tests and four one-day internationals besides a three-day game.

The genius said he was disappointed over not getting a century in the previous games.

"One always goes out to score hundreds. I wanted to score a hundred in both the Tests. But it happens to all the players. If it was not to be so, then all the great players wouldn't have got out in the 70 and 80s.

"When I had embarked on this tour, I had personally decided to try and hang around as much as possible. And that is what I was trying to do. I had told myself not to play big shots, even though that meant I would have to suppress my natural instinct to hit the ball. I basically did it because of the wickets here [in Zimbabwe]. I think on these kind of tracks you can't play the way you play in India or anywhere else."

But, that the batsman does not forget defeat easily was evident when he recalled how the one hour on the fourth morning of the second Test cost India the match.

"The tour has gone on very well so far, except for the fourth morning of the second Test. That one hour cost us the match. I thought we didn't play good cricket and we allowed them [Zimbabwe] to get back into the game. If we had given them 200 or 210 runs to get in the fourth innings it would have been a different story."

India lost the second Test to Zimbabwe by four wickets after they lost seven wickets for 37 runs on the penultimate day.

"I thought losing those seven wickets for 37 runs was the key. If you lose so many wickets in no time, it is very difficult to win a Test match. Right until that moment I felt that we were in the driving seat.

"I know it is very hard to express in words as to what we should do and what we shouldn't do. It just happens," the former skipper said philosophically.

"The only thing one could have done was to wait and hang around there for the new ball to wear out... . Such things are going to happen. We can't pin-point each other. We all need to take responsibility for it and try and ensure that we don't repeat it."

On the brighter side, Tendulkar said the team has now some very good youngsters.

"All the youngsters we have are very talented. They are also hungry to do well. They are prepared to work hard and that is a good sign.

"It augurs well, because if you look at the average age of the team it is around 23-24 years. The team is young and if this lot can stick together for years to come, I am sure we can produce better results."

However, Tendulkar said it is the bowling from which India has profited most.

"All the bowlers show promise... all the guys have different qualities and that is so important when you form a team. From every end, you have variety.

"Harbhanjan Singh is a top class off-spinner and he is only 21. It is an added advatage to the side. Somebody who is so young and has done well against quality sides... we can only expect better things from him."

The Mumbai stalwart was also very pleased with the fitness level of the team. "It has improved by leaps and bounds. Now we are a very good fielding side too".

Tendulkar said he is always keen to lend a helping hand to youngsters in the team. "I know I am the senior-most among the players here. If I see something wrong or an area where somebody can improve, I just go and tell (him) that this is what I feel. Then it is up to the player to take a decision.

"But as a senior member, I feel I should tell (them) where they are going wrong."

Mail Cricket Editor