Nice to get match practice before a big series: Sachin Tendulkar

Mumbai: A morale-boosting century clinched before the much-awaited Test series against Australia, senior Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday said the ongoing Irani Cup game has given him good match practice ahead of the big clash.

"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," Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 140 for Ranji champions Mumbai against Rest of India, said before the start of fourth day's play here.

India will take on Australia in a four-Test series starting February 22 in Chennai. It is a crucial assignment for the hosts, who lost 1-2 to England in their previous home series last year. Talking about his knock on Friday, which helped him equal Sunil Gavaskar's record of 81 first-class hundreds, Tendulkar said it took him some time to adjust to the pitch.

India will take on Australia in a four-Test series starting February 22 in Chennai.

"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 revealed that he has adjusted his guard slightly.

"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 elaborated.

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