Sydney, Jan 1 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar’s excellent record at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) makes him a favourite to score his much awaited hundredth international ton in the 100th Test starting here Tuesday, Australian batsman Michael Hussey says.
Hussey said Tendulkar standing on the threshold of a remarkable milestone is likely to score the hundred at ‘one of his favourites ground in the world’, making it ominous for the home team ahead of the second Test.
‘I am a bit nervous because the stars seem to be aligning with Sachin needing one more 100,’ Hussey told reporters before the practice session at the SCG Sunday.
‘The 100th Test match in Sydney – he has made runs here before – it is a little bit ominous but hopefully we can make him wait until after this series and he can get a 100 in the first game of the next series that he plays,’ he said referring to Tendulkar’s record at the historic ground where he has scored 664 runs in four matches at an average of 221.33.
Tendulkar looked in good form at Melbourne but missed out on a hundred after making 73 in the first innings.
Even the Australian fans are looking forward to Tendulkar’s impending hundred at the SCG but Hussey asserted that they will try everything to stop him from getting there in the series.
‘I do find that strange (on Australian fans supporting Tendukar).
‘I can assure you that everyone in our dressing-room does not want him to make a 100. I think our bowlers down in Melbourne did an outstanding job, not just to Sachin but to all of their batsmen.
‘They have got one of the best batting line-ups ever and the plans that we set and the way they the bowlers executed them were second to none. For a reasonably inexperienced attack to be able to do that job, and for long periods of time which is something we have been really working on, it is a real testament to the bowling group.’
On the SCG pitch, Hussey said: ‘Just from walking across the ground, the pitch looks a lot less green than it has been over the last few years. Certainly, in the last few years, I think the Sydney pitch has changed texture from when it used to be a real dust bowl and helped the spinners. The last few years have been really seamer friendly and there has been overhead conditions to help that as well.’
Australia lead the four-match series 1-0.
