I'm proud of Sachin, says Brian Lara

Caribbean batting legend Brian Lara paid tribute to Sachin Tendulkar on Monday, claiming he was "proud" of the Indian icon's achievements.

Tendulkar, 29, became the youngest player ever to play 100 Test matches when the final npower Test against England started at the Oval last Thursday.

"It's a great achievement for a 29-year-old to play 100 Tests," Lara said. "The form and consistency that he has shown over his career is tremendous."

"He has the world at his feet and he's taking it one step at a time. He'll play a lot more and I am proud for him as a friend - I hope he goes on to even greater things."

Asked if he would have liked to replicate Tendulkar's phenomenal consistency, which has seen the right-hander score 8351 runs at 57.99, including 30 Test hundreds, Lara was claimed to be happy being his own man.

"I look at Sachin and I see a great player, the kind of person that you would like to follow, but I have my reputation and am happy with the way my career has gone," he said.

Lara was talking to the journalists after the arrival of the West Indies team in Colombo for the ICC Champions Trophy, a tournament that Lara hopes will provide further confirmation of a resurgence in West Indian cricket.

"This team has gelled well," claimed Lara. "We have a lot of young players who are now coming to terms with international cricket. We have performed creditably in recent times and can do well here."

He added: "We are capable of getting back to the top, perhaps not as invincible as the team of the 1980's, but a force to be reckoned with in international cricket."

Lara is still recovering from an elbow injury sustained after a bizarre collision with fielder Marvan Atapattu during West Indies' tour of Sri Lanka last year.

"I am not 100% at the moment," he said. "The injury was the most serious of my career and has had a psychological effect on me. I have been unable to do certain things and it's going to take time to get back to my best."

But, even if not fully fit, Lara believes he has an important role to play in the team as a senior player.

"I know what it takes to gel a team and every senior player has to play a part to help the captain by performing on and off the field," he said.

"I don't see myself as a father figure but someone who the young players can come to and talk about cricket. I have a very good relationship with the young players."

Lara has played 90 Tests in his career, scoring 7572 runs at 49.49.