Sachin Tendulkar eyes his favoured SCG for hundredth ton

The best batsman in the world left the MCG yesterday stuck on 99 international hundreds, having been foiled in both innings by the bowling of Peter Siddle.

His state of suspended animation now dates back to March.

Home grounds have offered him 100 gold coins, Lord's rolled out its red carpet hoping he would do it during the 2000th Test, celebrations have been prepared, horoscopes consulted and stars aligned, but that elusive last century has suffered stage fright.

The Indian's MCG disappointment is Australian cricket's delight. Yes, it might have cost the Melbourne Cricket Ground Committee a small fortune in day 3 gate takings when Tendulkar was removed in the last over of day 2, but the short-term pain is the game's long-term gain.

The Melbourne match attracted a record crowd for Australia-India Tests and the anticipation of the next Tendulkar ton should bring even more through the turnstiles at the Sydney Cricket Ground next week.

The 100 watch is developing a life of its own. The Sydney Test will be the 100th hosted by the SCG and the historic venue is a favoured playground of Tendulkar, who has an extraordinary record there. In 2008 he spoke of his love of a place where he averages 221. He scored 148no in his first appearance there 20 years ago and has continued to plunder on subsequent visits with scores of 45, 4, 241no, 60no, 154no and 12.

"The SCG has obviously been one of my favourite grounds away from India," Tendulkar said. "It's a terrific ground, a special place and I love the atmosphere inside. It's wonderful.

"There's certain grounds where you go out and feel that you can do well, and the SCG is one of those grounds where I feel comfortable.

"It's a fantastic atmosphere."

SCG Trust chairman Rodney Cavalier is one who is happy that the chase for a century of international centuries will be resumed in the 100th Test his ground has hosted.

"It attains the outer limits of celestial beauty that, after Sachin has played Test matches and first-class games across the world, he is poised to score his 100th first class century on the sacred soil of the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 100th Test match played at the ground," Cavalier said.

"Sachin is so regularly compared to Don Bradman. I note that the Don scored his 100th first-class hundred for an Australian XI against India in 1947-48. For both the Don and Sachin, completing this journey at the SCG is very much a coming home."

Despite only lasting four days, the Melbourne match set a new record for Australia-India Tests with a total crowd of 189,347. The previous record was 181,053 in Sydney in 2004.

Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said the games would be well attended.

"Hopefully lots of people will keep coming to the cricket to watch him make his 100th hundred," Sutherland said.

Courtesy : Australian