Tendulkar unlikely to score 100th ton in Australia

Former Australian pacer, Glenn McGrath, has predicted that the Indian batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar will not be able to score his historic 100th ton during the ongoing tour of Australia. With 99 international tons to his name, Tendulkar is just one century short of becoming the first man to score hundred international hundreds. Cricket lovers and fans have been waiting for the elusive landmark since the English tour of India. He has come close to record on a few occasions the past few months, but falling short every time. Team India is currently in Australia, playing a four-match Test series. With three games still left in the series, fans and analysts alike are anticipating the Little Master to accomplish the record in the second Test at Sydney, starting on Tuesday.

However, McGrath has an entirely different take on the matter, saying that the Master Blaster will remain stranded on 99 tons this summer. He did rate Tendulkar as a class act, and confessed that Tendulkar will arrive at the elusive ton sooner than later. At the same time, he also claimed that the Kangaroos will stop the Indian superstar from achieving the glory in Australia. "Well the scene is set, there's no doubt about that, Sachin's a class player and to be sitting on 99 (international) hundreds is incredible," McGrath was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. "But I'm tipping our boys will hold him back for another few Tests. It would be nice to see Sachin get his 100th hundred first Test in the next series," added the 41-year-old fast bowler. Currently, Australia is winning the 4 match Test series 1-0, courtesy a 122 runs victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first test. Tendulkar made a fabulous half-century in the first innings of the match, but was cleaned up by Siddle to leave him short of his elusive hundred. Tendulkar has another chance in the second Test match, and he will need to be on song if India is to level the 4 match series at Sydney.

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Michael Clarke wants Ponting to score hundred, not Tendulka

All eyes are on Sachin Tendulkar, as he will be aiming to smash his historic 100th ton during the upcoming second Test between Australia and India. However, the Australian skipper, Michael Clarke is wishing for something entirely different, as he backed the veteran Ricky Ponting to hit a century in the second clash at Sydney Cricket Ground, starting from Tuesday. "The way Punter is batting at the moment, he is not far away from a big one. One thing I know about him is if he gets to 100, he won't be stopping there since he's got a very good record at the SCG. I know he loves playing here, so it wouldn't surprise me if he walked out and made a 100 in this Test,'' Clarke said ahead of the 100th Test match in Sydney.

The former Aussie skipper has a wonderful record at the SCG of scoring 1346 runs in 15 games – the most number of runs by any batsman at the venue. Ponting is in good form these days, as he scored half-centuries in both innings of the opening Test at Melbourne. However, the only problem is that he has been failing to convert his fifties into big innings, as his previous Test ton came against Pakistan almost a couple of years ago. While Clarke is pushing his ex-captain to fetch a hundred, he wished the Indian Little Master to score his elusive ton after the ongoing tour Down Under. "I hope his 100 doesn't come until the next series because I'd love to watch it on television. But he's been such a great player and certainly deserves all the credit he's received," added the 30-year-old skipper. The Kangaroos are currently one game up in the four-match Test series. They won the first game comprehensively by 122 runs, and are keen to make it 2-0 at Sydney. The Indian batting line-up failed terribly in the MCG encounter, and Clarke is expecting his bowlers to trouble the tourists yet again. He argued that since the Sydney wicket has something helpful for the bowlers, it will not be an easy outing for Tendulkar and other Indian willow-wielders.

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Michael Clarke plans to partake in the Cricket Australia review committee

Michael Clarke, Australia’s New Test and One-Day skipper is interested in being a part of the review committee for analysing and planning the national team’s performance.

"I'm excited to be home and have a bit of time off, but I'm very keen to get to Melbourne and spend some time with Cricket Australia and the selectors as well," maintained the captain.

Clarke, who arrived in Sydney on Friday, after leading the squad to overpower Bangladesh by 3-0, in a one-dayer that began on 9^th April said he had the support of his men. Majority of the members have stayed back in the Subcontinent to take part in the Indian Premier League.

Speaking of the team’s review, he stated that the upcoming months will witness some serious decision making through consultations, which will then set the net directions for Australian cricket. He wished to offer his experience and wisdom for the development of the squad.

"This is probably the important time for me to spend as much time as I can with the people who make a lot of decisions about our game, and make sure we are on the same page, have the same goals and are heading in the same direction," stated the cricket veteran.

Currently, Australia ranks at the top of the International Cricket Council limited-overs cricket, despite their failure in the World Cup 2011.

“The statistics say we are number one for good reason,” claimed Clarke.

He felt pride in stating that the team has won many one-dayers for a significant period of time. However, he added that more effort was needed to avoid stagnancy and to continue improving.

Clarke noted that Australia will be facing some tough cricket games in the next twelve months. The Aussies will be starring in the test format as well as in one day games. Next year they will perform in the Twenty20 World Cup.

He wholeheartedly praised Shane Watson for reaching the number one position as an all-rounder and ranking fourth in the One Day internationals batting. Clarke added that Watson has totally performed in form over the last 12 to 18 months.

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