New Zealand can’t stop Sachin Tendulkar or India: Shakib Al Hasab

New Zealand will not be able to stop Sachin Tendulkar’s India. In other words, neither will they be successful in stopping Tendulkar from scoring his 50th Test century nor can they stop India from further consolidating their position as the world’s No 1 Test side.
Making this stark observation about the Kiwis is none other than Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasab, New Zealand’s tormentor earlier this month. “It will be tough for the New Zealand side in India,” Shakib told DNA.

Still reeling under their 0-4 rout by Bangladesh — one of the lowest points in their cricket history — Daniel Vettori’s team on Saturday flew into the country for a three-Test and five-match ODI series.
“Though I am sure they will be determined to do well, India is simply playing very good cricket at the moment,” said Shakib, who topped both batting and bowling charts in Bangladesh’s emphatic victory recently.
As the Australians would admit, the Tendulkar factor looms large. The signs are ominous for New Zealand, said Shakib. “He’s at the peak of his form and doesn’t look like he's going to get out. It will be tough for New Zealand’s bowlers. There is a big possibility that he will get his 50th century in the first Test itself,” added the Bangladesh skipper.
Like most batsmen all around the globe, Shakib too looks up to Tendulkar for inspiration. “What can one say about him? He’s the best player in the world. We love to watch him play and try to learn from him. On his last tour to Bangladesh, he visited our dressing room and shared his thoughts with us and I cherish that experience,” Shakib said.
The Kiwis have less than 15 days to recover from the deep scars inflicted on them by cricket’s youngest ‘full international’ nation before they run into India.
Given their current form and strength, most people have marked November 4, the opening day of the first Test as the date for Tendulkar’s 50th Test ton. That, of course, will be possible only if India win the toss and elect to bat.
Shakib, who captained his team in the absence of the injured Mashrafe Mortaza, observed that Vettori’s side is not well equipped to negotiate the sub-continental conditions. “They have a comparatively inexperienced team. Except for the four or five seniors, they have no experience of playing in the sub-continent and they found it difficult to adjust to our conditions,” said Shakib.
Their only world-class bowler is left-arm spinner Vettori, but lack of support from the other end made him ineffective. “Their fast bowlers were not effective on our wickets. Vettori is the main threat and our gameplan was to play him with caution,” he added.
To be fair to New Zealand, Test cricket may be a different ball game, but the nucleus of both their Test and ODI sides is the same. Nine players who were part of the defeat are in the Test side.
Their batsmen struggled to adjust to the pace and turn of the pitches in Bangladesh and managed less than 200 in three out of four innings.
The three batsmen in the Test side — Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder — were the biggest disappointments. Taylor and McCullum averaged only 21.50 while Ryder scored 58 runs in three innings at an average of 19.33. BJ Watling, who is also in the Test squad, played all four games but scraped together 27.
Shakib agreed that the main test for Vettori’s men would be the mental battle to lift themselves after the shock treatment in Bangladesh. “(We could see) they were dejected, they didn’t expect to lose 4-0. It (vs India) will be difficult for them, but they have some good players and it will be up to them to rally them,” Shakib added.