London: The soccer mania is over, Britain is gripped by Wimbledon fever, but in the midst of all this, Sachin Tendulkar is bedazzling cricket lovers.

India's master batsman was the deserving recipient of the highest accolades in the British media on Friday for his spectacular unbeaten 105 against England in the rain- ruined match at Chester-Le-Street on Thursday.

His awesome innings was seen as a grim warning to England in the current triangular series and next year's World Cup in South Africa in which India and England are in the same group.

For weeks the World Cup football dominated the headlines even after David Beckham and his team exited from the tournament to the collective dejection of the whole of Britain.

With Tim Henman doing well in Wimbledon, sports headlines here belong to him. Yet, Tendulkar has his share of the limelight.

His innings on Thursday "will be placed alongside the masterpieces of the genre, for it was made on an uncooperative pitch and, perfectly placed - it moved smoothly through the gears of obduracy, acquisitiveness, controlled aggression and finally song mode," wrote 'The Guardian'.

Extras:
Rahul played an important role, says modest Sachin
It has been quite some time coming, says Sachin
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