His body and baggy green cap may not go the distance, but Steve Waugh wants to continue playing Test cricket into his 40th year to complete "unfinished business" in India.

Waugh, 36, made the revelation today while announcing a bat sponsorship worth an estimated $750,000 over three years with Indian tyre and sporting goods manufacturer MRF Limited, which also looks after Sachin Tendulkar.

Despite being one of the great Test series, Australia's 2-1 loss this year in India left a sour taste in Waugh's mouth and extracting revenge in 2004 would be his ideal way of bowing out.

He has fond memories of India from the tied Test in 1986, a World Cup win in 1987, his work with the Udayan home for children of leprosy sufferers and this year's epic contest.

"I'm looking forward to the World Cup (in 2003), that's probably the next major goal for the Australian cricket side," he said.

"Particularly myself, I'd love to go back to the World Cup and win a World Cup - that's not to say I'm guaranteed selection from now until then.

"But that's definitely a goal of mine and I guess way down the track, it's three odd years I think, is another tour to India, that may be a possibility.

"It's almost sort of unfinished business for the Australian cricket side ... we went so close and it's the one place where we haven't managed to win."

Australia will play three Tests against India from September, 2004.

If he lasts that long, Waugh (9,289) will almost certainly pass Allan Border (11,174) on the all-time run scorers list but Tendulkar (7,089) is not far away and he's eight years younger than Waugh.

"He's the No.1 in the world at the moment and rightly so, he's the best batsman that I've ever seen," said Waugh, despite Zimbabwean Andy Flower being top of the world ratings.

"I'd like to also challenge him (Tendulkar) to the No.1 position in the future and score a few more runs."

While he was looking into his crystal ball, Waugh rejected calls for video umpires to rule on lbw decisions in the wake of the incorrectly favourable ruling for Justin Langer at the Gabba.

"You don't want it to become Americanised and for us to be looking to the monitors to adjudicate on everything, it would take up a lot of time and you need that human element," said Waugh.

"There's always going to be those decisions that mightn't be the right way, but in the long run it does tend to even out."

Waugh light-heartedly suggested he knew it was time to finalise the MRF deal when No.11 Glenn McGrath was the only other player without a sponsor in the first Test.

What kind of blade does he like?

"People probably don't understand it but bats pick up a certain way and they feel good in your hand in the way they lift and come down - it's more of a feel thing," said Waugh.

"If I had to say a weight it would be two pounds, eight ounces with an oval-shaped handle.

"I don't use a round handle, which is probably unusual and I like a bit of curve in the bat, a bit of a bow."

Waugh will lead NSW in a one-dayer against Queensland at the SCG on Sunday.

© 2001 AAP