Always nice to get match practice before big series: Tendulkar

Mumbai - India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said Saturday that the century in the Irani Cup will stand in good stead for him ahead of the big series against Australia.

“It’s a big series against Australia. I am sure everyone is looking forward to it. Always nice to get some match practice before a big series,” said Tendulkar here before the start of the fourth day’s play.

Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 140 for Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai against Rest of India on the third day here Friday. The knock helped Tendulkar equal Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 81 first class centuries.

“It was the kind of surface where you needed to spend a little time to understand the bounce and the pace and the movement off the pitch,” Tendulkar said.

“I had to take a little bit of time. Although I got a boundary off the second ball, I didn’t get deliveries in my hitting zone early on, so I had to wait for my time,” he explained.

The 39-year-old said he has made small changes to his guard.

“I keep changing consistently as per the demands. I keep making small changes…I just trusted my instinct. I went how I felt, how I needed to go according to the situation. You can’t plan a whole innings at same pace,” he said.

India face Australia in the four-match Test series starting later this month. Tendulkar, who was struggling with form in the 1-2 loss to England in the last Test series at home, retired from ODI before the Pakistan series.