Tendulkar is one of mammoths of world cricket: Strauss

Bangalore, Feb 26 (PTI) Many an adjective has been usedto describe Sachin Tendulkar in a career spanning more thantwo decades and England skipper Andrew Strauss today addedanother one, calling him a mammoth of world cricket.

Tendulkar remains a thorn in the flesh for the rivalteams globally and Strauss said his consistency for the last22 years showed how prepared he is going into their Group Bmatch of the World Cup here tomorrow.

"He is one of the mammoths of world cricket for the lasttwo decades," Strauss told reporters ahead of England''s clashwith India tomorrow.

"The fact that he has been doing that for so long and soconsistently is a great testament to his preparations," headded.

For a man, who holds virtually every key batting recordand is dreaded by bowlers world over, Tendulkar remains a bigthreat and England will be trying to find ways to contain theiconic batsman.

Tendulkar could add only 64 runs in three matches inthe 2007 World Cup, where India were knocked out in the firstround and the senior batsman would look to make amends as itprobably is his last World Cup.

Strauss also acknowledged that there is hardly anynegative point in Tendulkar and said he is a true legend.

"There are normally no negative words that you can sayabout Tendulkar. He is absolutely a great legend," Strausssaid.

Tendulkar made 50s on 17 occasions including seven timesin the 2003 World Cup and was honoured for making most runs(673) in 2003. He also remains at the top for making mostconsecutive 50s in World Cups -- four each in successivematches in 1996 and 2003.

Tendulkar has also scored 50 plus runs in mostconsecutive innings in two world cups.

Tendulkar holds the record of most career runs at 17,657,highest individual score of 200, most matches (444), most 100s(46), most 100s against any one team � nine against Australia,most 50s (93) and most boundaries (1,929).