ICC must strike a balance - Tendulkar

Graeme Smith said it was the players' "biggest worry"; Tim May, the Federation of International Cricketers Association, warned of the possibility of a player strike; while Sunil Gavasker was "shocked" at players complaining over their schedules. The topic of player burn-out has elicited extreme reactions but Sachin Tendulkar, expectedly, chose the middle path.

"It differs from player to player," he said while speaking at an Airtel-promotional event in Mumbai. "Some have played a lot of cricket and feel the effect of too much cricket, while others have just started. It is important that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strike a balance between too much cricket and too less. It is also important from the spectators point of view - they shouldn't be deprived of cricket; at the same they shouldn't get too less."

When probed further on the issue, especially Gavaskar's view on the topic, Tendulkar chose the diplomatic route. "Everyone is entitled to his opinion. As far as I am concerned, I have been happy with my schedule. It is important to physically and mentally recharge yourself after every series. One must make sure there is a break after matches and series."

Tendulkar was also asked of Ricky Ponting's fantastic run recently, fast catching up on his record 35 Test hundreds. "I played against Ponting in a few exhibition games in 1991-92 and knew he will be the guy to watch out for. Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test hundreds stood for 22 years and such benchmarks help the next generation - whether it is Ponting, Lara or myself. That is the best thing about records."