Sachin Tendulkar's 42nd one-day hundred gave him tremendous satisfaction, not just because it was his first limited-overs ton in more than 13 months but also due to the fact that it helped India grab a 1-0 lead in the tri-series finals against Australia.
“It came at a good moment, the finals is a big occasion. I am extremely pleased,” Tendulkar said after his unbeaten 117 carried India to a six-wicket triumph. “Australia are the number one ranked team in the world. It was extremely important to play well in the second half of the tour as well. When we were able to achieve the target, it was a special moment, I really enjoyed it. This hundred is right up there.”
It was also Tendulkar's first hundred in 39 one-dayers in Australia. “Away from India, the SCG is my favourite ground, so it was special to get the hundred here. To score a hundred in Australia, against Australia, was something I always wanted to do. To get that at a special occasion makes you feel nice. To be honest, I did want that hundred.”
Tendulkar has attracted criticism in recent times, especially from former Indian team-mate Sanjay Manjrekar.
Without naming his one-time friend, the little man brushed off criticism. “I don't worry too much about criticism because people say a lot of things,” he noted. “Sometimes, they talk about it because they have not been able to do certain things. My job is to play, so I let them talk and keep quiet myself. I look at the credibility of the person who is writing. I've got people who actually guide me. I listen to those people. Those who really matter to me would always pick up the phone and tell me.”
Just on Saturday afternoon, Tendulkar visited the Sir Don Bradman museum here, and held one of Bradman's match-bats in his hands. “It was an experience to hold Sir Don's bat. I will always remember that moment. It was one of those afternoons when I saw lot of things in the museum and it was absolutely fantastic. It's nice to follow that up with a hundred,” said Tendulkar.
Ponting dejected
Ricky Ponting admitted that he had given the boys a rollicking at the SCG on Sunday night. Ponting had a quick chat with the team after India's win, and was then asked what he had said to his team-mates. “Not all the chat I had with them was nice,” he conceded.
“It was a bit of a kick in the backside. I let them know you can't switch things on and off. You have to be there right till the end. I expected us to bounce back today, and we didn't bounce back as well as we should have.”
Tendulkar's knock drew appreciation, as did Rohit Sharma's fluent 66. “Once he got past the new ball, Sachin controlled everything beautifully. Sharma also played very well,” he said.
