'Aussies now major rivals'

Batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar said on Thursday that India's rivalry with Australia was now even more intense than with long-time arch-enemy Pakistan.
Ahead of Australia's four-Test tour to India, which opens on October 9 in Bangalore, Tendulkar said he expected a fiercely competitive series between two teams who have battled for superiority over recent years.
"I think it (India v Australia) has become bigger largely because of the competitiveness," Tendulkar said.
"All the series between us from 2001 onwards have been very keenly fought and have been very close ones."
In the ill-tempered 2007-2008 series in Australia, India lost the first two Tests but recorded a prized victory over the home team in the third Test in Perth.
Over the last seven years, 11 out 15 India-Australia Tests have had results with Australia holding a 6-5 advantage. India have won two Tests in Australia, while no other team has won a single Test since the Ashes game in Sydney in 2002.
"We have gone to Australia and beaten them," Tendulkar stressed.
"We have been able to surprise the Australian team and that's what the Australian public likes: competition and high standards of play. They love to see challenges and competitiveness.
"The fan following for the India-Australia series has definitely increased as compared to say 15 years ago," he added.
The "little master", now aged 35, is closing in on Brian Lara's record for the most runs ever scored in a Test career, but said statistics were not his priority.
"I don't think much about records. I want to enjoy my game. If players focus on their performance, records automatically fall into place," said Tendulkar, speaking to reporters in New Delhi.
"I focus on playing the game well. If it (the record) comes in doing so I will be happy," added the ace batsman.
Tendulkar will begin the series 77 runs short of surpassing Brian Lara's record of 11,953 runs to become the highest run-getter in Tests. He was tipped to break it during the recent series in Sri Lanka but managed to score only 95 in three Tests.
India's last tour of Australia was marked by personal insults between teams, and allegations of racial abuse and bad sportsmanship.
But Tendulkar said he did not expect a repeat of such problems during the upcoming series.
"Talking on behalf of the Indian team, I can say we will play hard but fair and I feel the Australians also will do so," he said.
Ricky Ponting will lead a relatively inexperienced team -- none of his bowlers have played a Test in India -- but Tendulkar said their squad, which is a blend of experienced batsmen and new-comers with extensive first-class experience, would challenge India.
Meanwhile, PTI adds from Mumbai, Tendulkar yesterday appeared to dismiss any chance of an early retirement from international cricket.
When a scribe asked him about his retirement plans at a press conference here, Tendulkar shot back "I think you got to be in some other press conference."
Plagued by injuries in recent times, Tendulkar skipped the one-day series against Sri Lanka due to a left elbow injury but has now recovered fully to be eligible for selection for the upcoming series against Australia.