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Sachin Tendulkar [Images] cheer-up.
The batting star, struggling with injuries of late, has got a vote of confidence from none other than the former Indian coach John Wright [Images] who believes that Tendulkar has it in him to score 100 international centuries.
With many doubting the 32-year-old player's ability to reach the dizzy heights of the past in the wake of a career-threatening injury, Wright said the cricketer was capable of reaching the milestone.
"I am convinced there's another level waiting for Sachin. I thought it was going to be this season but the elbow was a real problem. I believe he is capable of scoring 100 international hundreds," Wright said.
Tendulkar, who has so far 72 international hundreds to his credit including 34 in Tests and 38 in one-dayers, recently underwent a surgery on the elbow which is expected to keep him out of action for another 14 to 16 weeks.
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"He is the first truly great sportsperson I've worked with... His humility and friendship have been very special," he told the Wisden Asia magazine in an interview.
The former New Zealand [Images] captain also hailed the "fearless" opener Virender Sehwag [Images] and Anil Kumble [Images], who have stood the test of time.
"He (Sehwag) is very special... He is fearless. He backs himself. I never tried to get in the way of his batting," Wright said.
"He is a very smart cricketer. I've been very pleased with his development since the tour of Australia. If he keeps going, he is going to be a great, great player."
On Kumble, he said, "I won't be surprised if he keeps going. I said to him the other day that you are just like the president -- another four years! I hope and I think he is going to play, Test cricket at least, for a long, long time."
Wright said he loved the on-field attitude of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh [Images], who was hard hit over the controversy over the way he bowls his doosra.
Also read: Harbhajan called for throwing
"He's a fighter, just loves the competition. There have been a lot of people in India who tell me that Harbhajan is not a great off-spinner. Well, I think he is one of the great bowlers.
"The whole doosra issue is extremely hard on him. I've always thought that if someone's throwing, it's best called by the square-leg umpire.
"I find this whole area very confusing. He went down to Perth, cleared all the tests, he comes back, and a game later he's reported again. I hope they sort it out."
Wright said he also admired V V S Laxman [Images] enormously for his batting skills and added the position in which he bats was important for his success in one-dayers.
"...If I was to sit down and pick three or four batsmen, Laxman is definitely in that -- it's no-brainer. One-dayers, I think his batting position is important to him."
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