Daily Cricket News

Focus on Tendulkar in India-NZ Test series

New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar is expected to dine on New Zealand's bowling when the three-match Test series with India starts on Thursday in Ahmedabad.

The master batsman, enjoying a memorable year at age 37, will start fresh after helping India sweep both home Tests against Australia last month then opting out of the three one-dayers.

Tendulkar has scored 1,270 runs in nine Tests this year at a Bradman-like average of 97.69.

Test cricket's greatest runscorer — with more than 14,000 runs and 49 centuries — takes aims at a New Zealand side reeling from a woeful tour of Bangladesh.

With two more matches of the three-Test series in South Africa scheduled for this year, Tendulkar has five Tests in which to surpass Mohammad Yousuf's record of 1,768 runs in a calendar year (2006).

But Tendulkar, who has racked six centuries and a 98 this year, didn't want to think about South Africa or Yousuf yet.

"I would like to think about the next three Test matches that we play (against New Zealand)," he said.

Tendulkar should play the lead role in an experienced batting order that boasts of Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the world's top-ranked test side.

Tendulkar has tallied 1,406 runs in 19 Tests against New Zealand at an average of more than 52.

But he's also struggled against the Black Caps. When they last visited India for Tests seven years ago, Tendulkar tallied only 71 runs in four innings. New Zealand drew that series, only the second draw in eight visits.

The Black Caps, yet to win a Test series in India, would consider a drawn series this month a moral victory.

New Zealand captain and spinner Daniel Vettori, the only member of his squad to have played a Test in India, hoped to lead them back to respect.

"I suppose the responsibility primarily lies with me as the most experienced bowler. But looking at the statistics, we know that seam bowlers can do a pretty good job particularly if you can get the ball reversing," Vettori said.

He will become only the second Kiwi after former skipper Stephen Fleming to play 100 Tests when he takes the field on Thursday.

"It's a great honour for me and something I would really cherish all my life. It's been an amazing journey," he said.

Another milestone was in Vettori's reach: He's just 38 runs shy of becoming the third allrounder after Kapil Dev and Ian Bothan to complete a double of 4,000 runs and 300 wickets.

In contrast to a settled India, eighth-ranked New Zealand come on tour after a disastrous five-match, one-day series in Bangladesh, which it lost 4-0.

It led to coach Mark Greatbatch criticizing his players and the resignation of New Zealand Cricket general manager Geoff Allott.

Greatbatch, though, remained optimistic.

"We have some new players in and this is a great opportunity for all of them," he said. "We didn't play to our standards against Bangladesh but we have to move on from there and do well against India."