In the second test cricket match between India and Australia at Bangalore, Sachin Tendulkar spoke about the importance of focus in his life in enabling him to find the centre of his bat and achieve his latest success.Playing his 171st Test, Tendulkar became the first batsman to amass 14,000 Test runs, hitting Nathan Hauritz, the off-spinner, for a boundary in the 27th over of the Indian innings.
‘All I Need…is…Focus’
"[For the] last 20 years I have pushed myself really hard ... challenges are always going to be there for me. All I need to do is to focus as hard as possible, work on my fitness, lead a disciplined life and use my body cleverly," Tendulkar told Neo Cricket channel.
Since his 1989 debut in Pakistan, Tendulkar has come a long way, amassing more than 31,000 international runs, including 94 centuries. Named ICC [International Cricket Council] Player of the Year four days ago, he has enjoyed a prolific season with more than 1,000 Test runs in 2010.
‘Centre of the Bat’
Asked if things have changed for him in the last 10 years, Tendulkar said: "Nothing has changed. [I am] finding the centre of the bat and enjoying the game. There was a phase in between when, because of injuries and lot of other things, it was a little difficult to move the way I wanted to. Now it's been good."
Tendulkar’s Secret: ‘Using Body Cleverly’, The National, 11 October 2010.
Geoff Pound
Image: Tendulkar celebrates in Bangalore (Photo courtesy of AFP).