Gavaskar's advice helped, says Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, who gave India a vital first innings lead over Australia on Tuesday, said a chat with former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar had helped him get his 25th Test century.

"I had spoken to Gavaskar this morning, it helped," Tendulkar told reporters after his knock of 126.

Tendulkar, 27, moved up to joint fifth place on the list of all-time century makers along with Australian captain Steve Waugh, who scored his 25th hundred during his team's 171-run loss in the second Test at Calcutta last week.

The list is headed by Gavaskar with 34.

Tendulkar reached the three-figure mark with a huge six over long-on off spinner Colin Miller and dedicated the innings to his brother Ajit, who had come down from Bombay to watch him bat.

"I have played many better knocks but I am happy with this one. Any batsman tries to score runs, so it's a great feeling to get a hundred," he said.

Tendulkar, playing in his 82nd Test, propped India up to 480 for nine, 89 runs ahead of Australia's first innings score with two days to play in the deciding third Test.

He said the home side would try to press home the advantage.

"We have to try and press home the advantage of whatever lead we have but we cannot afford to forget we have to bat last. The best situation would be our winning the test without having to bat again," he said.

Tendulkar said the wicket was turning and bouncing and would be more difficult to play as the match progressed.

"There were periods the Australians were bowling well and to a good line. But I thought we had got into a very good position before we lost quick wickets," he said.

Tendulkar and Dravid (81) had shared in a 169-run partnership when paceman Jason Gillespie had them caught behind in quick succession.

"Gillespie was fast, he bowled quite well," Tendulkar said.

The master batsman got a life on 82 when he played Miller straight to mid-wicket, where Michael Slater dropped a simple catch.

"I was lucky then, very lucky," Tendulkar said.

He had survived another half-chance earlier when Slater failed to hit the stumps while Tendulkar and Dravid had a misunderstanding over a quick single to mid-on.

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