OMGSACHIN: Tendulkar bowls leg-spin after batting session

Mirpur: Still chasing his 100th international century, Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday had a net session for over an hour ahead of India`s Asia Cup match against Bangladesh here on Friday. Tendulkar faced spinners Yusuf Pathan and Rahul Sharma, besides some medium-pace bowling from new bowling coach Joe Dawes, at the nets.

Tendulkar also received throwdowns from fielding coach Trevor Penney even as coach Duncan Fletcher kept a close eye on the batsman.After the session, Tendulkar had a long conversation with the coach. It did not end with the batting practice as Tendulkar was also seen bowling leg spinners to Rahul, who was also beaten neck and crop on one occasion, much to the surprise of the 38-year-old. He then offered some batting tips to the young leggie.

First, he tested each of the bats Rahul had carried out, and picked out the best one for Rahul to use. He sent down a ripping legbreak that Rahul tried to clobber from the nets to the main Shere Bangla ground, only to be beaten by a long way, to Tendulkar's amusement.

The next legbreak was solidly defended, prompting Tendulkar to jokingly ask why he didn't try to slam that one as well. There were googlies that thudded into Rahul's thigh, a straighter one which fizzed on to middle stump, and many times when the batsman struck the ball, Tendulkar would signal that it would have been caught at mid-on or midwicket. The session ended with Tendulkar giving Rahul some batting tips.