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Tendulkar, India hoping to bounce back against Aussies in second test

SYDNEY — Sachin Tendulkar hopes that there's safety, or at least comfort, in numbers at the Sydney Cricket Ground as India attempts to level the four-test series with Australia.

Tendulkar, still in search of his 100th international century, has 664 runs at an average of 221.33 in four tests at the SCG. In 2004 he shared a record SCG fourth-wicket partnership with V.V.S. Laxman — they added 353 with Tendulkar scoring an unbeaten 241 — as India declared its first-innings at 705-7 in the drawn fourth test.

Both Tendulkar and Laxman also scored centuries in the first innings of the acrimonious 2008 test at the SCG.

India, which lost the series-opening test in Melbourne last week by 122 runs, has never won a test series in Australia. But it has been involved in some epic matches at the ground and will be more confident than usual with a Tendulkar milestone on the line.

Rohit Sharma, who could make his test debut at the expense of middle-order batsman Virat Kohli, said the SCG was a venue most of his teammates enjoyed.

"You look at the past record, what we've done in Sydney, it's tremendous, whether it's one-day cricket or test cricket," he said. "Individual players have performed really well. Hopefully Sydney turns out lucky again for us in this test match."

Despite all the hype of Tendulkar's quest for 100 hundreds, and an SCG crowd that would probably love to see it happen, Michael Clarke's Australian lineup would just as soon see the drought continue.

"I can assure you that everyone in our dressing room does not want him to make a 100," veteran batsman Mike Hussey said.

"I am a bit nervous because the stars seem to be aligning with Sachin needing one more 100. (It's) the 100th test match in Sydney, he's made runs here before."

The last time Australia hosted India at the SCG was in 2008, when the relations between the two teams reached an all-time low.

Clarke's three wickets in the final overs of the fifth day of that match delivered the Australians a world record-equaling 16th consecutive test win, but allegations Andrew Symonds had been racially abused by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh overshadowed the outcome. There was speculation that India proposed boycotting the remainder of the tour.

"That was a long time ago and the personalities and teams have changed quite a lot, particularly in our team," Hussey said.

"That's gone, that's in the past. I think the players that were involved in all the controversies have moved on, even played together."

Hussey believes this year's SCG test pitch could see a return to the drier, more spin-friendly wickets of the past.

"Just from walking across the ground it looks a lot less green than it has been the last few years," Hussey said. "Certainly in the last few years I think the Sydney pitch has changed texture from when it used to be a real dustbowl and helped the spinners."

India will not name its team until just before the toss Tuesday.

SYDNEY — Australia has announced an unchanged starting XI for the second test against India beginning on Tuesday.

Australia is opting not to use a four-pronged pace attack at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Offspinner Nathan Lyon has retained his spot and fast bowler Ryan Harris, who did not recover from injury in time to be part of the Melbourne test which Australia won by 122 runs last week, has been named as the 12th man.

Skipper Michael Clarke on Monday said Harris has "been a wonderful bowler for us . . . it was tough to leave him out, but we've stuck with the winning team."

There had been speculation that Harris could be recalled as part of an all-pace attack for the 100th test at the SCG, which has lost its reputation as a turning wicket in recent years.

"We've had a long-enough break as well and that was probably the other consideration," Clarke said ahead of a training session Monday.

"Finishing the (first test) a day early and the bowlers not bowling too many overs in the second innings has certainly helped them."

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Australia bowlers come up big against India on fourth day

MELBOURNE, Australia — After two years of experimentation, disappointment and unfulfilled promise, Australia may finally have found a bowling lineup it can stick with.

Pace bowlers James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus stamped their authority over one of cricket's most experienced batting lineups when Australia beat India by 122 runs on the fourth day of the first test Thursday.

Hilfenhaus, discarded after a dismal Ashes series, returned figures of 5-75 and 2-39 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

James Pattinson, in just his third test, had 2-55 and 4-53, along with some handy batting in a man of the match performance, while Peter Siddle showed new found consistency to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar in each innings and return 3-63 and 3-42.

"I've got to give full credit to our bowlers," Australia captain Michael Clarke said. "We all know how dangerous India's batting lineup is and for our bowlers to be able to restrict them in both innings, full credit to them."

With test regular's Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson injured, along with new sensation Pat Cummins, many viewed the bowling selection for Melbourne as a stop gap measure.

But the Australia pacemen showed little respect for veteran Indian batsmen like Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid, dismissing India for 282 and just 169.

"We have to be at our best to beat India," Clarke said. "It has a lot of class players and it's batting order is as strong as any batting order in the world, so for our bowlers to have success, I think they deserve a lot of credit."

Australia was never going to find a ready replacement for spin great Shane Warne, but after almost three years Nathan Lyon has at least the economy to press for continued selection after figures of 0-66 and 1-25.

"I'm confident in Lyono. He's a wonderful talent," Clarke said. "He can hold up an end even if he's not taking wickets."

With Ryan nearing match fitness, Clarke and the selectors will have some serious deliberations ahead of the second test starting next week in Sydney.

"I've seen Ryano bowl in the nets the last few days and he looks pretty good," Clarke said. "I guess that's probably one of our bonuses at the moment. Our attack's bowling really well, and when you have guys like Ryano not too far away from being fully fit, I think it's a good problem to have."

And if the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch has something to offer spin bowlers, matters could be further complicated.

"We need to see the conditions and have the options if it is going to spin, we can talk about two spinners, we can talk about an allrounder, but if it has got grass on it like it did last year, we could play four fast bowlers.

DURBAN, South Africa — Sri Lanka removed South Africa skipper Graeme Smith to have the hosts 86-1 in their second innings at lunch on day four of the second test and still trailing by a hefty 363 runs.

Dilhara Fernando had Smith caught by Mahela Jayawardene in the slips for 26 Thursday to give the Sri Lankans an important breakthrough in their push for a series-leveling victory and first win in 16 tests.

Smith has a strong record in fourth-innings run chases for South Africa but survived less than 10 overs before Fernando (1-12) struck for his first wicket of the match.

Hashim Amla was not out on 37 with five fours and Jacques Rudolph unbeaten on 20 as the Proteas faced a world-record chase at a ground where they have lost their last three tests.

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India leaves door open for pacemen

MELBOURNE, Australia — India is expected to wait until just before Monday's toss to name its team for the first test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, giving injury-prone pace bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma a chance to prove their fitness.

Waiting game: India's Sachin Tendulkar takes part in a training session in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday. AP

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Khan and Sharma "are shaping up well, hopefully they would all be available for selection" for the first match of the four-test series. The visitors have not won a test series in 64 years of touring Australia.

Batsman Sachin Tendulkar will renew his quest for his 100th international century in the first test, having been stuck on 99 since March. Dhoni said Tendulkar's main emotion when he finally reaches the milestone will be relief.

"He will get it at some point in time, whether it's this series or the next series," Dhoni said. "I don't think there's any added pressure on him. But of course if he gets it soon he will feel a bit relieved. The whole of cricket, all over the world, people will really cherish the moment when he gets his hundredth done."

On Sunday, both teams held light batting sessions and the Australians had a family Christmas luncheon.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who took his son with him to the luncheon, says Australia has put its embarrassing loss to New Zealand in the Hobart test behind them. Australia lost eight wickets for 74 on the final day in a seven-run loss to the No. 8-ranked Kiwis two weeks ago — the visitors' first test win in Australia since 1985.

"We're in a very good space at the moment," Haddin said. "Boxing Day, it's a great occasion to walk out onto the MCG. As as sportsman, it's a highlight to be able to come out in front of 60,000 or 70,000 to watch a test match."

Australia left out uncapped allrounder Dan Christian and pace bowler Mitchell Starc from its 13-man squad when its team was named Saturday.

Swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus won a recall after recovering from knee tendinitis while Shaun Marsh returns to bat at No. 3 after overcoming a back injury which kept him out of the two-test New Zealand series.

Clarke said it was a gamble to leave out No. 6 batsman Christian, especially with fellow allrounder Shane Watson declared unfit as he recovers from hamstring and calf strains. But Clarke said he could call on himself and other part-timers Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting and David Warner to bowl a few overs.

Australia will take just four genuine bowlers into the test — Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and James Pattinson, who has taken two five-wickets hauls in his first two tests.

Tasmania's Ed Cowan, 29, will become the 10th Australia player to make his test debut in 2011. Cowan will open the batting with David Warner against No.2-ranked India.

Haddin said the possibility of Tendulkar achieving the historic 100-century mark was a bonus for the fans.

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India looking to end Australian test series drought

MELBOURNE, Australia — With an Australian cricket team in upheaval, India might have its best chance in decades to end an unwelcome streak Down Under — it has never won a test series since it began touring here 64 years ago.

Christmas feast: Australia's Ed Cowan hits a ball in training on Friday ahead of the first test against India on Monday. AP PHOTO

When the four-test series begins Monday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar might have an opportunity to give India a solid start towards ending that streak, and create a historic milestone for himself: becoming the first cricketer to score 100 centuries in tests or limited-overs internationals.

Tendulkar warmed up for an attempt at the mark when he hit a stylish 92 in India's drawn tour match against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI a week ago.

Tendulkar's last international century came in March against South Africa. Fellow batsman Rahul Dravid has also been in strong form, scoring 1,067 runs in 2011 with five centuries.

But Dravid said he'd trade all the personal achievements for a test series win in Australia.

"I wouldn't have minded scoring five hundreds (fewer) or 1,000 runs less if we could win a series in Australia," Dravid said. "The greatest memory for me now is not necessarily statistical . . . it's those magical moments. The series wins in tests stay with you.

"I think that's what you play for at this stage. I don't have anything in terms of my own numbers or statistics that I want to achieve in Australia, but I want to win a test series (here) and help the team win in Australia."

Former India captain Kapil Dev believes his side has edged closer to an elusive Australia series win. And he claims former captain Ricky Ponting, who is in a batting slump, is the biggest threat.

The 37-year-old Ponting has not scored a century in nearly two years, has averaged 50 just once in his past seven series and has made 323 runs at an average of 24 in seven tests over the past 12 months.

The 158-test veteran will play in his 15th Boxing Day test after being named to the team Saturday. Shaun Marsh, who is returning from a back injury and scored an unbeaten 99 in a Twenty20 match this week, was thought to be a strong chance to replace Ponting, but both were named in the starting side.

"I am more concerned about Ricky Ponting than anybody else because he is experienced," Dev said. "If we can control him, we can control the entire Australian team. Experience always comes in handy in the long run, and he has not scored enough runs in the last year, so he is due."

The Australian team is in tatters after losing eight wickets for 74 in a seven-run loss to No. 8-ranked New Zealand in Hobart two weeks ago. It was New Zealand's first test win in Australia since 1985.

The collapse against New Zealand extended concerns over a batting order which reached its nadir in South Africa last month when dismissed for a record low of 47 at Cape Town.

"This time India has a better chance to win the test series in Australia, there is no doubt about that," Dev said. "Australia were on top of world cricket for 15 years. But now it is not the same team without (Glenn) McGrath, and Shane Warne, (Adam) Gilchrist and (Matt) Hayden. They are not as strong as they used to be."

Dev points to the veterans India still has in its team.

"We still have Sachin, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman and Virender Sehwag," he said. "Then they are combined with the young talented fast bowlers and spinners. It looks like our team are getting strong everyday."

Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Cameron Hodgkins said there would not be too much life in a pitch that traditionally plays low. He advised both sides that they might need some variation in their attacks to take the 20 wickets needed.

"After the new ball has worn and the pitch has flattened out, you tend to need a fair bit of variety to conjure up wickets," Hodgkins said. "It hasn't traditionally turned much on the last day but can become a better batting strip, which means it needs a variety of bowlers to get wickets."

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