Sachin Tendulkar cheer-up.
The batting star, struggling with injuries of late, has got a vote of confidence from none other than former Indian coach John Wright who believes that Tendulkar has it in him to score 100 international centuries.
With many doubting the 32-year-old player's ability to reach soaring heights of the past in the wake of a career-threatening injury, Wright said the cricketer was capable of reaching the milestone.
"I am convinced there's another level waiting for Sachin. I thought it was going to be this season but the elbow was a real problem. I believe he is capable of scoring 100 international hundreds," Wright said.
Tendulkar, who has so far 72 international hundreds to his credit including 34 in Tests and 38 in one-dayers, recently underwentsurgery on the elbow which is expected to keep him out of action for another 14 to 16 weeks.
Advertisement
Wright, who had a four-and-half-year-stint with the Indian team before calling it quits just after the series against Pakistan this April, also paid richtribute to the "great sporting icon".
"He is the first truly great sportsperson I've worked with... His humility and friendship have been very special," he told the Wisden Asia in an interview.
The former New Zealand captain also hailed "fearless" opener Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble, whohas stood the test of time.
"He (Sehwag) is very special... He is fearless. He backs himself. I never tried to get in the way of his batting," Wright said.
"He is a very smart cricketer. I've been very pleased with his development since the tour of Australia. If he keeps going, he is going to be a great, great player."
On Kumble, he said, "I won't be surprised if he keeps going. I said to him the other day that you are just like the president -- another four years! I hope and I think he is going to play, Test cricket at least, for a long, long time."
Wright said he loved the on-field attitude of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was hard hit over the controversy over the way he bowls hisdoosra.
Advertisement
"He's a fighter, just loves the competition. There have been a lot of people in India who tell me that Harbhajan is not a great off-spinner. Well, I think he is one of the great bowlers.
"The whole doosra issue is extremely hard on him. I've always thought that if someone's throwing, it's best called by the square-leg umpire.
"I find this whole area very confusing. He went down to Perth, cleared all the tests, he comes back, and a game later he's reported again. I hope they sort it out."
Wright said he also admired V.V.S. Laxman enormously for his batting skills and added the position in which he bats was important for his success in one-dayers.
"...If I was to sit down and pick three or four batsmen, Laxman is definitely in that -- it's no-brainer.In one-dayers, I think his batting position is important to him."
PTI
