T V Sriram/Rediff

Colombo, Sep 28: Critics may say that Sachin Tendulkar is past his prime and should contemplate retirement, but Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene feels the Indian batting maestro has a lot of cricket left in him.

"I think Tendulkar is playing great cricket. I wish he plays for 10 more years," Jayawardene told PTI in Colombo.

Jayawardene's English counterpart Paul Collingwood echoed his views and said Tendulkar was in great touch despite playing almost non-stop cricket for the past 18 years.

"I think he is in great form and will continue for some more years," Collingwood said.

Tendulkar had opted out of the recently-concluded Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. He returns to action in the seven-match ODI series against Australia starting on Saturday.

The 34-year-old was described by former Sri Lankan cricket star Duleep Mendis as a 'great cricketer'.

"I think he is still fit to play any version of the game be it one day or the five dayers," Mendis said.

A senior Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) official said Tendulkar's consistency put him ahead of former West Indies captain and star batsman Brian Lara.

Meanwhile, recalling the six sixes that Yuvraj Singh [Images] hit off Stuart Broad in the Twenty20 World Cup, Collingwood said his strike pacer had put the spanking behind him.

"He is a young player and is learning from experience. Of course he was not happy at being hit," he said.

England and Sri Lanka will play a five-match ODI series and a three-Test series starting next week here.