http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, 1st Test: Sachin Tendulkar not concerned about records
Sachin Tendulkar, the batting wizard from India, has once again claimed that he is not as concerned about making records as he is about “giving more than 100 percent on the field.”
The batting maestro emphasized his love for the game, and his focus on preparation and continuously striving to improve his performance.
“If I would have been chasing records, I would not have opted out of few ODIs,” said Tendulkar. “I believe in producing quality cricket whenever I step on the cricket field.”
Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 107 in India’s second innings in its recent Test match against South Africa at the Centurion. His knock could not save India from defeat, but helped the visiting team muster up a respectable total in
an otherwise nearly one-sided match. With this century, Tendulkar has now become the first batsman to make 50 centuries in Test cricket.
“Scoring in situation like this gives me immense pleasure,” said Tendulkar of India’s struggle to make a comeback after a shoddy first-innings performance. “All of us know that how the wicket behaved on the first day of the match.
I don’t want to give any excuse but wicket was different only on the first day. It was extremely important to bat well in the second innings. It was even more important to send loud and clear message that we can fight back strongly. I think we have done that.”
Tendulkar attributes his achievement to the grace of God – and to his trusty bat, one that he has been using for the past year.
“I know that this bat is not in best of condition as I am using it for so long,” said a beaming Tendulkar of his secret weapon, which has been responsible for 11 of his centuries
and his first ever ODI double-century. “I have few bats absolutely ready for match. But the moment, I pick up this bat, I feel that no one can get me out.”
Tendulkar remembers his 136-run knock against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in Chennai in 1999 as the most difficult of his entire career because the “wicket was really deteriorating and quality of bowling attack was outstanding.”
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