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 Tendulkar
says he will not be preparing for this week's match at Lord's by
studying videos of the England bowlers. He watched some of their Tests
against West Indies and has faced all the England bowlers before,
except for the left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom. "I study all bowlers
quite closely and have my own ways of working things out, but you
always have to be on your toes. Whether it is Steve Harmison or
Alastair Cook bowling, it just needs one good ball to get you out, and
by the time you've realised it, it can be too late.
"I try to work on the opposition, on the way they are thinking. It is
all about planning. If you can out-think them, you've done a good job.
I have no regrets, absolutely none. I would rather look at the
positive things that have happened to me than the few negative things,
because I am a positive person, I like to have good memories, learn
from my mistakes and move forward. There is no room for
disappointments."
Surprisingly, India have not won a Test series in England during
Tendulkar's time. They were beaten 1-0 in 1990 and 1996 and drew 1-1
in 2002. He expects another close encounter this time. "It should be a
good contest. I'm looking forward to it. We'll have to play tight,
stick to basic disciplines and fight to the end. I've been watching
Monty Panesar. He is terrific. He's done a fabulous job for England,
but it is going to take time for him to graduate to the next level and
be regarded as one of the best of all time, but he surely has it in
him.
"We've shared some wonderful moments. I signed a ball for him (in
India last year, after Panesar had claimed Tendulkar as his first Test
wicket) and wrote, 'Once in a blue moon'. I had to write something
funny on the ball. We caught up in the West Indies when he joined us
at lunch. He's a nice bloke."
So, what does he think is the secret of his phenomenal success? He
pauses and reflects. "My desire and passion for the game, and my will
to win and perform well. I don't like losing. It may be a practice
match, but I still don't like losing. Not only cricket. I don't like
losing in other sports such as table tennis, squash and badminton.
Even go-karting."
Asked about his recent scores in Test cricket, which look fairly
meagre without the boost of easy runs against Bangladesh, he says: "I
think it's probably the way people have looked at things. I think I've
done reasonably well. Maybe the expectations are too high and
unrealistic at times."
Is he aware that some pundits believe he is uncomfortable against the
bouncer? No comment. What does he say to those who claim he does not
play enough matchwinning innings in Test matches? Again, no comment.
He is less prickly when asked when he might retire. He has asked India
not to consider him for the Twenty20 World Championship, but says:
"I've not come here with that frame of mind. I've kept things open. I
don't want to divide my energies. Now I just want to focus on
playing."
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