Critics may say that Sachin Tendulkar [Images] is past his prime and should contemplate retirement, but Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene [Images] feels the Indian batting maestro has a lot of cricket left in him.

"I think Tendulkar is playing great cricket. I wish he plays for 10 more years," Jayawardene told PTI in Colombo.

Jayawardene's English counterpart Paul Collingwood [Images] echoed his views and said Tendulkar was in great touch despite playing almost non-stop cricket for the past 18 years.

• Tendulkar sounded for captaincy

"I think he is in great form and will continue for some more years," Collingwood said.

Tendulkar had opted out of the recently-concluded Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. He returns to action in the seven-match ODI series against Australia starting on Saturday.

The 34-year-old was described by former Sri Lankan cricket star Duleep Mendis as a 'great cricketer'.

"I think he is still fit to play any version of the game be it one day or the five dayers," Mendis said.

A senior Sri Lanka [Images] Cricket Board (SLC) official said Tendulkar's consistency put him ahead of former West Indies [Images] captain and star batsman Brian Lara [Images].

Meanwhile, recalling the six sixes that Yuvraj Singh [Images] hit off Stuart Broad in the Twenty20 World Cup, Collingwood said his strike pacer had put the spanking behind him.

• Yuvraj's sixes to savour

"He is a young player and is learning from experience. Of course he was not happy at being hit," he said.

England [Images] and Sri Lanka will play a five-match ODI series and a three-Test series starting next week here.