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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Ryukyu's Palmer hoping to add to title collection

Key addition: Forward David Palmer (right), seen playing for the Osaka Evessa against Hamamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix star Wendell White in the 2009-10 bj-league championship game last May at Ariake Colosseum, has given the Ryukyu Golden Kings a valuable presence in the locker room and top-notch perimeter scoring this season. YOSHIAKI MIURA PHOTO

For a guy whose collegiate career concluded at little-known Southern Utah, David Palmer is living a dream.

He's a professional basketball player, not a regular 9-to-5 office worker. Even better, before or after work he's blessed with this perk: endless opportunities to enjoy Okinawa's natural beauty.

"I ride my bike to the beach and may sit out at the beach and read a book," Palmer said by telephone after a recent practice, not needing to elaborate on this whimsical thought.

A consummate professional, the Ryukyu Golden Kings sharpshooter insists he can cope with this vacation-like atmosphere with a get-down-and-dirty approach to his job.

"It could possibly be that way for some people. But for me, no not at all," Palmer said, dismissing the idea that the islands can be a holiday-like distraction all the time.

"I love to play and I do take pride at doing my job."

Clearly, the Golden Kings, who take on the Osaka Evessa in Saturday's Western Conference final at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, are proud of the job Palmer has done since he joined the team this season, adding another key player to the mix as it retooled its lineup for another run at the title.

Ryukyu won its first championship in 2008-09 under coach Dai Oketani in his first season running the team, which included prized free agent signing Jeff Newton, the standout big man with three rings from his days playing for the Osaka Evessa.

"I felt this team definitely had a chance to contend and compete for a championship," Palmer said, reflecting on his decision to reunite with Newton, his Evessa teammate from 2005-07.

Palmer left the Evessa after the team's second title season when he won the league's MVP award, opting to play in the NBA Development League in 2007-08. In 37 games for the Dakota Wizards, he averaged 7.9 points per game.

"It's not always easy to get a roster spot (on a D-League team)," Palmer admitted.

Money is a major concern for players in that league, too, he said, with the typical salary being $2,000 to $4,000 per month, and most players making about $2,000.

In addition, the long D-League season and contractual buyouts make it a challenge for players to leave their teams and seek opportunities elsewhere.

"The No. 1 thing is guys just don't want to make that commitment," Palmer said.

Does he want to return to the D-League?

"No, I don't think so," Palmer said. "It was a good opportunity to get some more experience, playing against some high-level competition and get some exposure.

"I didn't have the healthiest season there and I didn't play as well as I was hoping, too. But it was a good experience."

Palmer's second stint with the Evessa lasted one season and ended after the team's loss in the final against the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix last May.

Now he's making preparations for his fourth trip to Ariake, where the league's ultimate showcase will be held for the sixth consecutive spring.

Along with Newton and two-time MVP Lynn Washington of the Evessa, Palmer joined forces with point guard Matt Lottich, now an Oita HeatDevils standout, to give the league its first "Core Four," the moniker often used to describe the New York Yankees' dynasty quartet of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.

Palmer recognizes he's had a role in building the league's popularity during its formative years. And he doesn't need to rattle off a list of the top players in league history to prove his point.

Simply put, Palmer lets his game speak for itself.

And how would he like to be remembered in the years to come?

"That I cared about basketball and I cared about the things off the court," Palmer told me.

He paused for a moment and then said, "I really liked basketball and I really enjoyed my time here in Japan and I tried to make a positive experience on my team."

To those who have played alongside Palmer, they'll tell you he's done exactly that.

In looking back at the rapid growth of the league since 2005-06, when it had six teams, to the 2011-12 campaign, when 20 clubs will compete, Palmer expresses pride in the role of its first generation of players.

"As it continues to grow and continues to add teams, a lot of us guys that have been here, we are part of the beginning of this league and helped this league grow and created a positive image," Palmer said. "Most of us are proud of this."

***

The 2010-11 Golden Kings, a veteran-laden squad, include newcomers Dillion Sneed in the frontcourt, guard Naoto Kosuge in the backcourt and scoring ace Carlos Dixon, who averaged a team-high 15.9 points per game.

"On any other team he would average 20 points per game," Palmer said of Dixon, making a larger point about the team's overall depth.

Newton, Anthony McHenry and Shigeyuki Kinjo were indispensable members of Ryukyu's title-winning squad, while point guard Tsubasa Yonamine, who also played under Oketani at Oita, provide proven big-game production.

"He's a true leader," Palmer said of Yonamine. "I don't think his true value can be measured by on-court statistics. He's a quality leader."

Is there an X-factor on this Golden Kings squad? Palmer thinks Kosuge could be that guy.

After five seasons in a Niigata Albirex BB uniform, Kosuge has benefited from a change of scenery. Indeed, it's extremely rare for a player's scoring average to decrease for five consecutive seasons, but that's what happened to Kosuge while playing for Niigata coach Masaya Hirose, going from a respectable 9.5 ppg in 2005-06 to 1.6 last season.

This season, Kosuge scored 10.5 ppg and canned 85 3-pointers, his highest long-range output since the league's inaugural season. In other words, Kosuge resurrected his career and reminded everyone that he got lost in the shuffle in Niigata.

In addition, Kosuge's veteran leadership was also a key factor for the Kings.

"I think that obviously Kosuge coming from Niigata has been a huge benefit. Niigata's a really professional organization and that carries over to the players," Palmer said.

"He talks in meetings. He's been such a good player for us. He's been huge."

***

Palmer made his season debut in early November and played in 32 games (six starts), filling a role as a key player off the bench for Oketani. He had a similar assignment with Osaka. (As the 2006-07 MVP, he averaged 17.4 ppg and finished the season with 34 straight games of 10 or more points.)

The Californian missed eight games in January and February with a shoulder injury, but he finished the season strong, including a 7-for-9 output on 3-point shots in a 26-point game on April 26, two 19-point games and an 18-point effort in the season's final weeks.

"Yeah, there's always something you could've done better," Palmer said. "But I'm pretty happy with the season. I wish I would've rebounded the ball a little bit better. I think having a shoulder injury handicapped me a little bit. I was a little hesitant to mix it up down low.

"I missed some opportunities to rebound and protect the rim."

As is the case with any player or team, especially those that strive for perfection, it's easy to point out one's shortcomings. It's not always easy, though, to expresses those things in detail.

Palmer found a simple way to summarize his season and his team's, saying, "Overall, we had our ups and downs, and I did as well, but it's been a pretty successful season so far."

He's right. The Golden Kings have played 52 games, winning 36 of them, including two playoff contests against the Shiga Lakestars on May 7-8 to earn a trip to the Final Four for the third straight season.

That's a special achievement in itself.

But Palmer and Co. aren't quite ready to begin thinking about summer vacation plans yet.

"Hopefully we can win two more games and then it'll be a really successful season," he said.

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