Tendulkar fires Indians to series win over Australia

Sachin Tendulkar attributed the "fantastic" 2-0 series victory against Australia yesterday to a collective effort by the India team.

India completed a clean sweep by winning the second Test in Bangalore yesterday by seven wickets.

Former Yorkshire batsman Tendulkar played a crucial role in the victory by notching up an unbeaten 53 on the back of a first-innings double-century.

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The multiple record holder was also involved in match-winning partnerships with Cheteshwar Pujara (72) and Rahul Dravid (21 not out).

In all Tendulkar scored 403 runs in the two Tests and his effort was acknowledged with the man of the match and man of the series awards.

However, he remained as humble as ever and gave credit to his team-mates – with a special mention for Ishant Sharma, whose three-wicket burst in the second innings and defiant tail-end vigil helped India win the first Test in Mohali by a whisker.

"I would like to congratulate the whole team, starting from Laxman and Zaheer Khan who helped us win. I must also mention Ishant Sharma's contribution in the first Test," Tendulkar said.

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"Pujara showed tremendous character and his partnership with Vijay was a very crucial one," said the winner of this year's International Cricket Council Cricketer of the Year award. "This series was a fantastic one. Normally, there is not much of a crowd for Test cricket but I must thank the Bangaloreans for coming out. You guys made the victory sweeter," he said.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised the efforts of his bowlers on batsman-friendly pitches. "As a captain I keep losing tosses which means the bowlers have to come in and bowl on flat tracks. But they have bowled really well," Dhoni said.

On Australia losing both the Tests despite notching up scores in excess of 400 in their first innings, Dhoni said: "In India you can just lose a Test in two sessions. You need to play well in all the five days."

Rival captain Ricky Ponting admitted that India outplayed them in the series. "We have played reasonably good Test cricket but we were outplayed," he said.

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"We needed to get a few early wickets today, we got one but Pujara and (Murali) Vijay batted well," he said.

On the positives for the visitors from the tour, Ponting said: "(Ben) Hilfenhaus and (Mitchell) Johnson have been good. (Shane) Watson has been good."

Ireland captain Will Porterfield has joined Warwickshire from Gloucestershire on a three-year contract.

The 26-year-old batsman joins new overseas player Younus Khan in making the move to the Edgbaston county.