Tendulkar getting better with age: Waugh

Instead of waning with age, Sachin Tendulkar is getting better with every passing day, former Australia captain Steve Waugh said in Kolkata on Friday.

"He is improving day by day and in his prime form," Waugh said and added in a lighter vein "Looking at the way [Sachin] Tendulkar is playing, it seems he can play till 50 years."

The Australian great had earlier compared Tendulkar with Sir Don Bradman.

Asked whether he is interested in coaching, the 43-year-old said, "Not thinking about coaching now... Maybe in future, I will think about coaching."

Talking to reporters at a cricket clinic at Beleghata in north Kolkata, he praised India's South African coach Gary Kirsten's way of work while describing the jobs of a captain and a coach.

"The captain is always the boss on the field, as he has to be on the spot. The coach on the other hand plays a supporter's role quietly. Look at Kirsten. He goes on about his job very quietly which is exactly the coach's role."

Waugh termed Indians as favourites to defend the title in the second edition of the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in England in June.

"Indians have a very good side.... The youngsters are really impressing and the IPL has done good for them.

"But Australians also have a strong chance for the title," he said.

With the England led by a rather inexperienced Andrew Strauss, Waugh said the Baggy Greens also have a good chance to retain the Ashes.

"Aussies have an advantage over England. I think Strauss' elevation will only help us," he said, ending his three-day whirlwind tour of the city.

On the last day of the trip that began with visiting to Udayan, a rehabilitation home for children from leprosy colonies near Barrackpore and then getting his hands and feet dirty by taking part in a drive to clean up city canals, Waugh on Friday gave tips to children in the cricket clinic.