Cricket-Twenty years on, Tendulkar still feels like he's 16

By Sanjay Rajan

MUMBAI, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar's passion for cricket has not diminished during his long career and he still has a child-like enthusiasm for the game, said the record-breaking India batsman.

The 36-year-old will join a list of 15 players whose international careers have spanned more than 20 years when he plays in the first test against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad on Monday.

"Cricket lives in my heart and whenever I'm on a cricket field I enjoy it ... somewhere it's still a 16-year-old hidden inside who wants to go out and express himself," Tendulkar told a news conference on Friday.

"I do that and it comes naturally and I don't make any special effort to show enthusiasm. It's been my life and I enjoy every moment.

"I enjoy challenges, it's a package deal, ups and downs, wonderful moments and there are disappointments so all that also makes you a stronger person and you learn to deal with various things in life," said the batting great.

Tendulkar has been the face of Indian cricket since his test debut as a chubby, curly-haired 16-year-old against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989.

He now holds the record for most test runs (12,773), test centuries (42), ODI runs (17,178) and ODI centuries (45).

"I think I'm very fortunate to be living that dream and 20 years is a long time so there have been many special moments in my career," Tendulkar said.