India's Sachin Tendulkar said on Wednesday he still has plenty of cricket left in him, after becoming only the fifth batsman in the game's history to smash the 10,000-run barrier in Test matches.
"I hope it doesn't stop here," said Tendulkar, who reached the milestone during his knock of 52 on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta.
"I still have more to offer to cricket and want to go on in the same vein," he said.
PHOTO: AFP
Tendulkar, who turns 32 next month, worked Pakistani medium-pacer Abdul Razzaq to long-leg for his 27th run to join the 10,000-club, a feat warmly applauded by nearly 35,000 spectators.
Other members of the elite club are Australians Allan Border (11,174 runs) and Steve Waugh (10,927), India's Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) and West Indian Brian Lara (10,094).
"It's an elite club with big names who are altogether in a different league. It's a nice feeling," said Tendulkar, who now tallies 10,025 runs.
The Mumbay player said the 10,000th run was as significant as his first one in Test cricket.
"The first run started my career and came against quality bowlers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. The 10,000th run reflects the prime of my career," said Tendulkar, who made his Test debut aged 16 in Pakistan.
"Reaching the milestone of 10,000 runs was not an easy task. A lot of effort, hard work and team effort had gone into it. Everyone from my family to my coach, to my team-mates and the people of India supported me. And I thank them all," he said.
Tendulkar, who is one century short of surpassing Gavaskar's world record of 34 Test hundreds, played down the hype surrounding that landmark.
"There's more to cricket and life than a 35th hundred," he said.
Tendulkar is the only batsman to score over 10,000 runs in both forms of the game, having amassed a world-record 13,497 runs with 37 hundreds in 342 one-day internationals.
"Having scored over 10,000 in one-day cricket is also very special and I value them as much as I value my Test runs," he said.
Tendulkar said he was happy to reach the milestone in a big Test series and at the Eden Gardens.
"It's special that the 10,000-run mark was achieved in a big series against Pakistan and reaching it at the Eden Gardens adds to the charm," he said.
When asked about his targets, Tendulkar said: "I never set targets. I want to play as long as I can and milestones will come my way."
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