PTI
 
Hamilton, Mar 13: Sachin Tendulkar is in the same league with Don Bradman and the batting maestro has it in him to become the first cricketer to hit 100 international centuries, former India coach John Wright said on Thursday.

Wright said he expects Tendulkar to continue at least till the 2011 World Cup and retire only when he desires.

"I always felt he is in the same line as Bradman and he has the potential to possibly get a 100 international hundreds combining Tests and One-dayers," said Wright, who had a successful five-year stint with the Indian team.

"To do something like that would be truly Bradmanesque," the former New Zealand captain said.

Incidentally, Bradman himself found some similarity between his own and Tendulkar's batting.

Tendulkar will turn 36 on April 24 but Wright said going by form -- the Mumbaikar hit a sublime 163 off 133 balls before retiring hurt in the third India-New Zealand ODI at Christchurch -- he expects the Indian to continue tormenting the bowlers.

"Judging by the last game in Christchurch, I think he has lot of cricket left in him and he'll decide (when to go).

"I was thinking about it, he has got everything. The thing with him is that with a deft touch, or flick or a slight manoeuvre he puts the ball in great speed. I expect him to be part of the Indian team for a little while because obviously there is a World Cup (in 2011) out there," Wright said.

The Kiwi reckoned it's only a matter of staying fit for Tendulkar.

"I think the spirit is fine and obviously he has got great love for the game," he said.

Wright also lavished praise of India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and said, "I'm really impressed by Zaheer Khan. With me, he was still learning that time. Now he has become one of the top 3-4 pace bowlers of the world and I respect that."