Sachin Tendulkar feels satisfied on hitting 39th century
MIL/Rediff, Jan 24, 2008. Author:


Adelaide, Australia: January 24, 2008 – Sachin Tendulkar feel fully satisfied after hitting his 39th century here today since he had a wish to make a big knock on this ground.

"It hasn't been a great ground for me. I scored a 65 here in 1999-2000 series and since then it hasn't been a good venue for me. I was determined to make this count," said Tendulkar after scoring a cultured unbeaten 124 on the first day of the fourth Test.

Tendulkar has now scored a century in all Test venues he has playedin Australia except Brisbane, with Sydney (3) and Perth (2) being favourites.

Tendulkar rated this innings high on two counts - he gauged it early that he was in good nick and that he shifted gears according to the ebb and flow of the game.

"When I drove Brett Lee down the ground I hit it exactly the way I wanted to do it. Then, when I hit a couple of drives off Mitchell Johnson at the other end.

"This innings was a special one because I could play it on the merit of the ball. When I needed to be defensive I could do out and when I wanted to hit, I could do it as well," he said.

It was one such aggressive moment when Tendulkar picked 10 runs off successive balls to reach the coveted figure and he explained the reason for such aggressive posturing.

 Tendulkar rated this innings high on two counts - he gauged it early that he was in good nick and that he shifted gears according to the ebb and flow of the game.

"When I drove Brett Lee down the ground I hit it exactly the way I wanted to do it. Then, when I hit a couple of drives off Mitchell Johnson at the other end.

"The wind was behind me, I used it to clear the field. I knew even if I didn't time the ball well, it would still clear the rope.

"I prefer to play the ball on merit and the next one was there to be hit so I went for it," Tendulkar said.

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