Tendulkar set to become most capped cricketer overtaking former Australia captain

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sachin Tendulkar is set to become the most capped Test cricketer when India plays Sri Lanka in the third and final match on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old batting great, who is the most prolific scorer in both Tests and one-day internationals and who has the most number of centuries in both versions, will surpass former Australia captain Steve Waugh when he plays his 169th Test.

"It has been a long journey. The 169th Test. I still remember the first Test match that I played in Pakistan," Tendulkar said Monday. "Very happy that I have had the privilege of such a long journey at international level and this was my dream. To play for India was my dream and getting to play 169 Test matches is fantastic."

Tendulkar helped in overcoming nervousness: Raina

Suresh Raina enjoying his maiden test century in his debuntant

Colombo: After notching up a century on his debut, Suresh Raina on Thursday said he was nervous when he took guard but Sachin Tendukar's pep talk helped him overcome the initial jitters.
Raina with his 120-run knock against Sri Lanka also became the first Indian cricketer to have scored a hundred in all formats of the game.
"Yes I was nervous when I came to bat but Sachin said just enjoy yourself, this moment will never come, you are playing your first Test match, just enjoy," Raina said after fourth day's play.

Tendulkar hits his fifth double century in tests

Sachin Tendulkar reached his fifth double century

Normal service resumed on the fourth day with bat dominating ball on a placid pitch after Sri Lanka's spinners had injected some life into the Test on the third. India all but ensured a draw as they closed in on the Sri Lankan first-innings score, with Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina adding to an exhaustive list of milestones achieved in this game. Tendulkar eased to his fifth double-century while Raina became only the second Indian batsman, after Virender Sehwag, to score a hundred on debut this decade.

'Tendulkar Opus' to have iconic player's blood in it

London: The publishers of Sachin Tendulkar's autobiography 'Tendulkar Opus' has decided to come out with a special edition of the book which will have the iconic batsman's blood on the signature page.
The "blood edition" of Tendulkar's autobiography, which will have pictures of his family not published earlier and thoughts about his career, will be released in February next year to coincide with the Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent.
The book, which will have 852 pages edged in gold leaf, will be sold at a whopping USD 75,000. Only 10 copies of the book, which will weigh 37kg and measure half a metre square, will come out.

IAF proposes honorary post for Tendulkar

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force is set to bestow the honorary rank of a Group Captain on cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a sportsperson.

Honorary ranks in the Air Force are traditionally given to people who have made outstanding achievements at the national level, especially those linked to the aviation sector. Among those who have been given similar honorary ranks in Air Force are J R D Tata and Vijayapat Singhania. Both Tata and Singhania were awarded the honorary ranks of Air Commodore.