Tendulkar's batting was a lesson: Hussain

While Sachin Tendulkar did the batting, Nasser Hussain did the learning.

The little maestro, who was in full flow en route to his 105 not out in the rain-abandoned Tri-Series match against England on Thursday, might not have known that the English skipper was 'educating' himself while watching him wield the willow in stupendous fashion.

"I think we learnt more about batting than fielding today. We learnt how to go in a one-day innings from a great player," said Hussain, after the match was abandoned due to rain.

Tendulkar's unbeaten 108-ball knock helped India reach an imposing 285 for four in 50 overs from a precarious 52 for three at one stage.

With Rahul Dravid (82), he put on 169 for the fourth wicket, an Indian record against England, which surpassed the previous best of 164 between Tendulkar himself and Vinod Kambli, at Jaipur, during the 1992-93 series.

Hussain was so overwhelmed by Tendulkar's innings that it was difficult for him to find fault with the English fielding or bowling, which was mauled by the champion batsman.

"I think credit is due to one great player who showed how to rebuild an innings. Today the little master showed us how to play a one-day innings. I have no complaints over our bowling or fielding."

Hussain said his team only stood a chance of restricting the Indians if they were able to break the Tendulkar-Dravid stand.

"We were right there till the 40th over. Up to 41st, we were just hoping to get a wicket in that spell."

Masterclass, says British media

The English media too lauded the maestro's batting. "His innings will be placed alongside the masterpieces of the genre, for it was made on an uncooperative pitch and, perfectly placed - it moved smoothly through the gears of obduracy, acquisitiveness, controlled aggression and finally song mode," wrote The Guardian.

Former England cricketer-turned-sports journalist Derek Pringle described Tendulkar's innings as "masterclass, not only for the people of the North-East (of England), but also to England's bowlers and batsmen."

"Put simply, this was an A to Z of how to compile and bedazzle in the same innings and only those who bowled as he played himself in, were spared the humiliation," Pringle wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

"Most batsmen, even good ones, play their shots in relation to where the bowler directs the ball. Not Tendulkar. Using his first fifty to play himself into form, he simply picked a spot, usually a boundary board 20 yards from a fielder, and then adjusted his footwork and bat angle in order to hit it there. If that sounds like fiction, just ask Ashley Giles or James Kirtley, two bowlers who felt the brunt of his exquisite placements," wrote the former England all-rounder.

The Times described the knock as an innings of the highest quality and Tendulkar's partnership with Rahul Dravid as glorious.

"Its impetus grew like a rising wind, carrying bowlers in its wake towards the end like errant paper bags," it said.

(c) Copyright 2002 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.