"Only Dravid knows what he did," seemed to be the resigned feeling in the Indian camp after the declaration. Tendulkar himself was furious. In his own, understated way, he made it clear to avidly curious media that he had no idea that the declaration was happening just then.

"Yes, I was terribly disappointed, anyone would be when a score like 200 is around the corner," said Tendulkar. He said he "didn't really know" what had happened. "At the tea-break we had decided that we wanted Pakistan to bat for about an hour and we knew we had to play positively but I did not know we would declare just when Yuvraj fell. I thought we had a few overs left when I saw Rahul waving to us to come in."

He said he had not spoken to Dravid about it. "Once a team has declared, there is no point in going back and talking about anything. What's happened has happened."

But Dravid, whatever anyone says, would in one way, be justified for what he did. Logically, he would have wanted Pakistan in for as many overs as possible before stumps. And if that meant stopping the game just then before any more wickets fell -- with the momentum going India's way and despite Tendulkar being on 194 --- so be it.

In its own way, it's a very bold decision, one that would have required tremendous guts. Though Sourav Ganguly was present in the dressing room at the time --- he left soon after --- the buck stops with Dravid. And he would know that.

Johannesburg, Mar 10: 2003. Sachin Tendulkar may have missed his 35th one-day hundred by just three runs in India's Super Six match against Sri Lanka today, but the master blaster broke his own record of scoring the maximum runs in a single World Cup. 

When he moved from 46 to 50 with a boundary, Tendulkar aggregated 524 runs in this World Cup, going past the 523 he had scored in the 1996 edition at home. 

After today's innings, he has 571 runs from eight games and is certain to play at least two more knocks in this tournament. 

Tendulkar is also the highest scorer in all the World Cups with 1,630 runs to his credit after today's innings, miles ahead of Javed Miandad (1,083) and Aravinda De Silva (1,028). 

However, he missed an opportunity to score yet another ton when he top-edged a Aravinda De Silva delivery into the hands of wicket-keeper Kumara Sangakkara while trying to sweep. 

It was the second time in this tournament that Tendulkar has got out in the 90s. He was dismissed for 98 against Pakistan. 

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has secured the prestigious Man of the Tournament award at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. 

Tendulkar's two points from the semi final with Kenya, where he scored 83 and took two wickets, were enough to establish an unassailable lead of four points over Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. He has now scored 669 runs at an average of 66.90 during the tournament, a new record aggregate, with one century and six 50s. Tendulkar is now also the heaviest scoring batsman in World Cup history, having passed Javed Miandad's previous career record. 

Dr Ali Bacher, Executive Director of CWC 2003, said: "We wanted this to be the best World Cup ever, and Sachin's brilliant batting has helped the tournament captivate many millions of people around the cricketing world. He thoroughly deserves this accolade " 

Sourav Ganguly's century in the Kenya game won him the Man of the Match award, but leaves him currently with 10 points, compared to Tendulkar's 14. 

Legendary West Indies all rounder Sir Garfield Sobers will present Tendulkar with a gold trophy worth 500,000 Rand at the end of the World Cup final against Australia tomorrow. The trophy, together with the gold watches awarded to all Man of the Match winners, have been donated by the Gold Mining Industries of South Africa. 

Man of the Tournament standings at the completion of semi finals: 

Sachin Tendulkar, India: 14 points
Sourav Ganguly, India: 10
Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka: 9
Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka: 8
Brett Lee, Australia: 7
Andrew Symonds, Australia: 6 

Leading Australian contender Brett Lee could finish level on points with Ganguly if he takes the Man of the Match award in the final, while team mate Andrew Symonds could tie with Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas for third place, if he claims the final award. 

Graeme Pollock, South Africa's champion left handed batsman will make the Man of the Match award at the Wanderers final. 
 

India captain Sourav Ganguly said there was every reason for his opposite number to choose to bowl first, after India's 183-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Wanderers. 

"There was a lot of moisture in the pitch early on so I knew he was going to put us into bat, but we just batted very well." Ganguly said. 

"We're very happy with the way we played today, we've done a very good job here today. We're a good unit, we know our strengths and we play to our strengths and we have match-winners in every position - that is the key." 

Ganguly was particularly fulsome in his praise for Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a six and seven fours in a 120-ball innings of 97, taking his run tally for the tournament to 571 in just eight matches. 

"He's playing as well as I've ever seen him, I think," said Ganguly. "The key this time is his consistency because he's doing it in nearly every match. 

"We've won again and winning is a good habit to get into. I thought Sri Lanka would put up a bit more of a fight, but it must be said that we batted superbly as a team." 

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore is backing his players to bounce back in their next game against Zimbabwe, despite two crushing defeats by Australia and India. 

"The players got themselves into this - they can get themselves out of it," Whatmore insisted. "We've had a talk about things in the dressing room and basically that's a fact. 

"Myself as coach and the physio and the backroom staff share a responsibility but what ultimately happens, whether we win or lose, is down to the players in the middle to put right."

 January 06, 2003 13:07 IST
 

Indian coach John Wright on Monday come out in defence of captain Sourav Ganguly and said the return of Sachin Tendulkar could turn things in his team's favour for the remaining matches of the New Zealand tour.

"It's a difficult time for a captain when things are not working for you. I think you'll find he'll be opening the
batting in Wellington (venue for the fifth one-dayer), leading from the front," Wright said.

Ganguly has failed to contribute much with the bat in New Zeland scoring just 29 runs from four innings in the two-match Test series and a sequence of low-scores -- 14, 0, 4, 2 -- in the four one-dayers played so far of the seven-match limited overs series.

"Sourav will be fine. Being the captain of India is a tough job and we're all under pressure. We haven't had a run
like this before. It's upto the coach and the captain to supply some leadership and the players have to go out there and fight. That's one of the things which has helped us in the past year.

"The return of Tendulkar will clearly help. We can turn things around in the next few days," Wright said.
 

Tendulkar, world's leading run scorer in the shorter version of the game with 11,544 runs, is likely to play in the
fifth one-dayer after missing the first four matches due to a twisted right ankle.

India are likely to revert back to Virender Sehwag and Ganguly opening the innings in the fifth game, with Dinesh Mongia coming in at number three.

Harbhajan Singh is expected to join the eleven at the expense of one of the four medium-pacers who played at
Queenstown. However, the off-spinner's inclusion in the side would depend on the Westpac Trust pitch.

Wright said no one was taking the team's recent failures as hard as he himself.

"Coaching is a great job when things go well. But when it doesn't, it presents the greatest challenge. It is your home
country and we all wanted to have a good tour, particularly myself.

"But I'm not particularly worried what people think of me. I worry about the players, try to turn things around and
do the best job. The guys are pretty low in confidence because they are touch players and they haven't come to terms with conditions they've been faced with," he said.

At the age of 17, Tendulkar reaches three figures for the first time in a Test as he makes 119 not out against England at Old Trafford. The innings includes 17 fours but the match is drawn. 

1992 

Tendulkar shows the Australian fans what he is capable of by batting almost five hours for an unbeaten 148 in the third Test at Sydney, but once again the game is drawn. 

The following match in Perth sees him make 114 off 161 balls, with 16 fours, but India are beaten by 300 runs. 

Tendulkar is a class apart as he makes 111 out of an Indian first innings total of 227 against South Africa in Johannesburg and at 19 years and 217 days becomes the youngest player to reach 1,000 Test runs. 

1993 
 

England are on the receiving end as Tendulkar scores his first century on home soil, hitting a six and 24 fours in his 165 as India win by an innings and 22 runs in Madras. 

Next up are Sri Lanka and Tendulkar's second innings 104 not out helps India to a 235-run victory in Colombo. 

1994 

Tendulkar returns home to face Sri Lanka again and it is a similar story as he collects 22 boundaries in a first innings score of 142 at Lucknow as India triumph by an innings and 119 runs.

The year comes to an end with a home series against West Indies and Tendulkar defies Courtney Walsh and co for almost seven hours to make 179 in Nagpur. The game ends in a draw. 

1996 

Tendulkar is in brilliant form on his second tour to England, marking the start of a three-match series with 122 at Edgbaston, but he is unable to prevent the home side from winning by eight wickets. 

The third match at Nottingham sees Tendulkar score 177, including 26 fours, and he shares a stand of 255 with Sourav Ganguly. The match, however, ends in a draw. 

1997 

India are beaten 2-0 in South Africa at the start of the year, but Tendulkar marks the second Test in Cape Town with a score of 169, which features 26 boundaries. 

Tendulkar makes Sri Lanka suffer again by making 143 in an Indian total of 537 for eight declared in Colombo, but the game is drawn. 

The second Test follows a similar pattern with Tendulkar this time batting for six and a half hours to reach 139. 

There is no let-up for the Sri Lankans as they travel to India only to suffer another Tendulkar onslaught - 148 including three sixes and 20 fours in Bombay, but they escape with a draw. 

1998 
 

Australia visit India in early 1998 and Tendulkar greets Mark Taylor's men by hitting fours sixes and 14 fours in his 155 not out at Madras as India win by 179 runs. 

He does even better in the third Test at Bangalore with an innings of 177, but Australia prevent a clean sweep with an eight wicket win. 

Tendulkar makes his first Test hundred against New Zealand, but his 113 cannot save India from a four-wicket defeat. 

Arch-rivals Pakistan visit India and Tendulkar helps himself to 136 in Madras, only for India to lose an exciting match by 12 runs. 

1999 

Once again Tendulkar feasts on Sri Lanka's bowling, making 124 not out in the drawn Test in Colombo.

India return home to play New Zealand and Tendulkar scores 126 not out in the drawn Test at Chandigarh. 

A landmark innings in the third Test sees Tendulkar make 217, his first Test double century, in a 344-ball innings which includes 29 boundaries. 

India are outplayed in Australia at the end of the year, but Tendulkar shows his class by scoring 116 in the second Test at Melbourne. The home side win the game, however, by 180 runs. 

2000 

Tendulkar plays the supporting role to Rahul Dravid with 122 as India beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Delhi. Dravid scores 200 not out. 

It is Tendulkar's turn to double up in Nagpur as his 201 not out off 281 balls leads India to 609 for six declared, but the match is drawn. 

2001 
 

India complete a magnificent 2-1 triumph over Australia by winning the final Test by two wickets in Madras, with Tendulkar contributing 126 in India's first innings. 

Partnered by protege Virender Sehwag, Tendulkar hammers 155 off 184 balls against South Africa in Bloemfontein, but the home side win by nine wickets. 

England try to keep Tendulkar in check, but it does not work at Ahmedabad, where he scores 103 in a drawn Test. 

2002 

Zimbabwe suffer in Nagpur as Tendulkar hits 23 fours in his 176 and India go on to win by an innings and 101 runs. 

Tendulkar hits his 29th century to equal Bradman, with West Indies the team to suffer. He reaches 113 not out at the end of the first day in the second Test. 

He then surpasses The Don's record with a sublime 193 in the third Test against England at Headingley. 

Tendulkar is now only four centuries short of Sunil Gavaskar's record.