New Delhi, October 30: Former Australian captain Allan Border has said Sachin Tendulkar should cut down on ODIs to prolong his Test career.
Tendulkar, who is a few weeks away from completing 20 years as an India player, is one of the senior-most players in the international circuit. Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya is the only other international who began his carrer in the 1980s.
Tendulkar has played 432 ODIs – second behind Jayasuriya’s 441 – and 159 Tests since 1989. Over the last couple of years, he has opted out of Twenty20 internationals to focus on the game’s longer formats. He has however participated in both seasons of the IPL, captaining his franchise Mumbai Indians in the second season.
“I have high esteem for Tendulkar and his achievements in international cricket,” Border told PTI. “But I think it would be better for him to appear in fewer limited-over matches, including one-dayers. It would help him to prolong his Test career.”
Border said it was a remarkable feat for anyone to sustain a 20-year career in this day and age with injuries on the rise. Tendulkar’s career has been plagued by injuries, the most notable being his troublesome tennis elbow. Only recently, he had to miss the four-match ODI series due to a finger injury he picked up during the IPL.
“Representing your country for 20 years in international arena is not a small achievement,” Border said. “There is always a lot of pressure on an international cricketer and I must say he (Tendulkar) has managed it beautifully. Like many others, his career was also disturbed by injuries. But even after many ups and downs, Tendulkar still has the same passion and love for the game.”
Border himself lasted 16 years as an international player before retiring in 1994. His 156 Test appearances was a world record before Steve Waugh overtook him.
In India as a brand ambassador for the New Delhi half marathon, Border said the Indians were better placed at this stage in the ODI series against an injury-ravaged Australia. The hosts comprehensively won the second ODI by 99 runs and the series is currently tied 1-1 with five more games to play.
“India would have a slight edge because they know the environment. And it is always difficult to deal with so many injuries while playing such a long series. It’s very important to keep the key players fit.”
—–Agencies