Can't ask for anything more: Tendulkar

Kunal Pradhan

Sachin Tendulkar was thrilled to become the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-dayers and score a match-winning century against Australia on Saturday.

Tendulkar hit 139 in the third one-day international as India went 2-1 up in the five-match series with a 118-run victory.

"I can't ask for anything more. I always maintain that if you score runs, it should be useful and your team ends up winning," he said.

He said he was not under any pressure nearing the 10,000-run mark. "But I would be lying if I said I wasn't aware of the milestone," he added.

Tendulkar said his plan to bat until the 40th over before playing big shots paid off as he and Vangipurappu Laxman put on 199 for the second wicket.

"I just wanted to hang around and it worked. Laxman kept rotating the strike," he added.

The 27-year-old is also within striking distance of taking 100 one-day wickets, having taken 98 going into the match.

But despite having a knack for breaking partnerships, Tendulkar was not given a bowl as Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar took three wickets apiece.

He said: "I told Sourav (Ganguly) not to forget that I had 98 wickets. But he bowled and took a wicket."

CONFIDENT GANGULY

Indian skipper Ganguly was confident his side would come out on top after they had taken the first few wickets.

"It has been like that against Australia right through the series. We knew if we picked up wickets, we would be in control," he said.

He was pleased with Tendulkar's batting feat. "It is a fantastic achievement and I am not at all surprised," he said.

Ganguly was not too worried about his continued poor form with the bat after being dismissed without scoring.

"I have had five great years of international cricket. This is bound to happen to any player. But I am happy the team is winning," he said.

Australian skipper Steve Waugh defended his team's rotation policy after the defeat.

The visitors left out in-form opener Matthew Hayden, despite his contributions of 99 and 57 in the first two games.

But Waugh said: "That is how we're going. We are looking ahead at the World Cup and big matches.

"We believe in that and feel it will pay dividends in the long run.

"There is always resistance to change," he added.

The Australian skipper said the defeats in India were a wake-up call after a run which saw them claim a world record of 16 consecutive Test wins.

"What we have experienced here is losing, which we hadn't experienced for a long time. It is a good reality check.

"We got some work to do before the last two one-dayers and the England tour," he said.

Also see

Tendulkar's 10,000

Images from the match

Wish Sachin Tendulkar

Mail Cricket Editor