 Sachin Tendulkar working on around off-stump line
15th Feb 2008 16:03 IST
Agencies
So far Sachin Tendulkar has a modest run in the Tri-Series and the master batsman is working on tackling balls pitched outside the off-stump before India's Sunday match against Australia in Adelaide.
Tendulkar has scored 10, 35, 44 and 32 in his four innings and at least on three occasions he has let go an opportunity to construct a major innings in the middle.
As he chose to skip an indoor session for a change and strode out to the outdoor nets, surrounded by media men and fans, his advice to his "net" bowler, fielding coach Robin Singh, was as always specific: "Bowl on and around the off-stump".
Tendulkar is aware that the Australians would not be bowling him much on his pads. The home bowlers, as everyone else, are aware of his strength on his on-side, which could become an overwhelming factor in Adelaide where the square boundaries are noticeably shorter.
One Australian bowler who is a master of the off-stump line attack is Stuart Clark. As in the Test series, Tendulkar appeared to have conducted a particular practice session keeping the tall New South Wales fast bowler in mind.
Time and again, Tendulkar would leave the balls marginally pitched outside the off-stump as he tried to perfect his judgment on which deliveries to play and which to leave.
His instruction to Robin was to bowl him deliveries, which gain height on the off-stump. "Height, bowl me deliveries which gain height on the off-stump," said Tendulkar.
One-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni first waited for his turn to bat at the nets and then became enraptured enough to watch the little genius give a master class.
The footwork, the high left elbow at the point of a stroke, were all displays of technical virtuosity.
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