The Hindu : Sport : I am 100 per cent confident I took the catch: Tendulkar

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I am 100 per cent confident I took the catch: Tendulkar

Special Correspondent

— Photo: AP

CLEAN OR CONTENTIOUS? Sachin Tendulkar bends low to snare Tim McIntosh. The TV replays didn’t confirm whether the catch was cleanly taken or not.

HAMILTON: After making 160, his third century in four Tests, Sachin Tendulkar spoke to the media on Friday evening.

Excerpts from the interaction:

On the century’s importance: I think it got us into a strong position now and that is what really matters to us. I would very much like to dedicate this hundred to Tiger conservation.

On his scratchy start on Thursday: Initially it was a little difficult to get used to the pace and bounce of the wicket. I thought once the new ball was taken, I started timing the ball much better. I was quite happy with the way I moved.

Every hundred is not going to be fluent, and you are not going to get 100 balls out of 100 from the centre of the bat. That is what Test cricket is all about. There are days that you have to work harder than the other ones.

I was prepared to wait for my chance, and eventually when I found the centre of the bat consistently I thought I was playing a different game altogether.

On the McIntosh catch: I was 100 per cent confident that I had taken the catch. I have seen the replays and I have also seen my fingers under the ball.

If the umpires were in doubt they would have definitely called for the third umpire. Sometimes on camera it looks different. I was pretty confident otherwise I wouldn’t have appealed.

On the finger injury: It is fine. It is a bit sore right now. I am glad that I have not broken it.

On the approach to Friday’s morning session: When I saw the ball was there to be put away I did it. There was no plan as such. The only plan was to watch the ball as closely as possible.

On overseas centuries versus home centuries: A hundred is a hundred. The last one I scored before this one in Chennai was also a difficult one. The conditions were not in favour of the batsmen and I managed to pull through and I thought it was an extremely important hundred.

On the standing ovation: Maybe they all think it’s my last tour. I don’t know. I’m enjoying myself, it’s nice to have a standing ovation, and at least I can tell my children I got a standing ovation.

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