Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene says he is wary of what is shaping up to be Sachin Tendulkar’s final chance in Australia to score his elusive 100th international century for India.
Tuesday’s tri-series one-day international in Hobart will be the Indian batting great’s last innings in Australia unless his team can find a way to bring off a bonus-point victory over Sri Lanka to stay alive for the series finals.
To date it has been a forgettable tour for the Indians, who lost all four Tests to Australia and have won just two of their seven matches in the tri-series.
The pressure is on the “Little Master” to produce one last piece of brilliance to get the World Cup champions the bonus-point victory over Sri Lanka they need for a chance to stay in the tournament.
Tendulkar’s has been unable all tour to achieve his 100th international century. But his ability is not being discounted by Sri Lanka, who would also need to lose their last game against Australia in Melbourne on Friday to miss the finals.
“You never know,” Jayawardene told reporters in Hobart on Monday. “I’ve played against him on so many occasions, he’s produced some brilliant individual performances.
“They’re a good side so you have to expect something different from them I’m sure because they need a big win.”
India slipped into Hobart on Monday following an 87-run loss to Australia in Sydney on Sunday and left the talking about Tuesday’s crucial match to their Sri Lankan opponents. “I have to feel for them. It’s been a long tour, especially when you’re not winning it becomes a much longer tour,” Jayawardene said.
India ‘desperate’ to
turn tour fortunes
Australian opener David Warner said Monday he sensed “desperation” among the Indian visitors as they try to salvage something from their dismal Down Under tour. Warner, who helped Australia secure their place in the tri-series ODI finals following a massive win over India on Sunday, said he was surprised by how poorly the tourists had been given the talent and experience at their disposal.
The 25-year-old batsman was man-of-the-match after topscoring with 68 as Australia romped to a bonus-point 87-run win over India in Sydney.
The defeat compounded a wretched run by India, who were hammered 4-0 in the Test series against Australia and have won just two of seven tri-series games.
India must claim a bonus-point (five point) win over Sri Lanka in Hobart on Tuesday and hope the Sri Lankans lose to Australia in Melbourne on Friday to have any hope of playing in the best-of-three match finals series.
Warner said India captain M.S. Dhoni’s had voiced disappointment at two controversial umpiring decisions that went against his side on Sunday, revealing the urgency of his desire to arrest their slump.
“We can see the desperation from the Indians this summer… they’re trying to get something out of it,” Warner told reporters. “They got beat 4-0 in the Test series and now they’re not doing too well in the one-dayers so they’re trying to appeal for anything at the moment.”
Warner said he was surprised that India’s world class line-up had struggled during the tour, particularly with the bat. India were again skittled out cheaply on Sunday — for 165 off 39.3 overs in reply to Australia’s 252 for nine.
But Warner backed them to bounce back sooner or later. “They’re a very, very good team and there’s some serious talent in the side,” he said. “They definitely haven’t lost interest, they’re always out there for a contest. They’ll find their form eventually, after this series.”
Warner said the Indian batsmen were letting little things affect them, such as people moving behind the sightscreen. “Little things are playing on their minds… so it’s obviously affecting their game.”
