SCG is Sachin's favourite ground overseas

It is his “favourite ground” outside India and Sachin Tendulkar is determined to continue this love affair with the SCG, where he averages a staggering 221, during the second Test against Australia starting on January 3.
Tendulkar has two centuries and a double century from just four Tests at the SCG, with a highest score of an unbeaten 241.
“The SCG has obviously been my favourite ground away from India,” Tendulkar said.
“It's a terrific ground, a special place. I love the atmosphere. It's wonderful.
“There are these certain grounds where you walk out there feeling you're going to do well and the SCG is one of those grounds where I feel comfortable,” he was quoted by The Daily Telegraph.
SCG has always had a special place in Tendulkar's career but it remains to be seen whether he can achieve the elusive 100th international century at his favourite overseas ground.
And with a combination of Tendulkar's date with history, Australia's win in Melbourne and fine weather forecast for the second Test, the SCG Trust and Cricket New South Wales are also hoping to lift the ticket sales for the next match of the series. continuereading 

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India's chances almost over

The ongoing rubber against Australia was seen as India's best chance of winning a series Down Under, but former captain Sunil Gavaskar said that the visitor should forget about such a possibility after the humiliating loss in the first Test in Melbourne.
Asked whether the defeat has virtually ended India's chances of winning the four-match series, Gavaskar responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, I think so (about India not winning the series). I will be happy to be proven wrong, but I don't see that happening,” he told NDTV.
“In both the innings here we failed to cross the 300-run mark, especially in the second innings here the pitch was good for batting.
“In England we managed to reach 300 only once despite our batsmen having 30,000-40,000 runs behind them. The alarm bells are ringing very loudly,” he added.
M.S. Dhoni might be facing criticism from all quarters for his defensive captaincy of late, but Gavaskar extended some support to the beleaguered India skipper.

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India's bowlers should stir the batsmen

Virender Sehwag was asked during the first Test in Melbourne if Gautam Gambhir's lack of runs was worrying. Fixing the questioner in an unblinking gaze, Sehwag said: “One innings, man. Long tour.”
This, of course, was before India's second innings. It was another of those moments between reporter and cricketer, a question inadequately articulated and thus intriguingly answered. The question was about long-term form, Sehwag's answer, about the challenges of playing Test cricket in Australia and the patience needed when assessing it.
Four Indians — Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, and R. Ashwin — played their first Test in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Their performances, as opener, middle-order bat, fast-bowler, and spinner, were indicative of India's; they raised issues, which, if contemplated, might clear the gloom of defeat.
Gambhir's is the most interesting case, for there is not the slightest doubt that he is a first-rate batsman who seems to have an extra dimension in a crisis. But the runs have come less prolifically over the last two years: he made 994 runs from 33 innings at 32.06 in 2010 and 2011 as compared to 1861 runs from 25 innings at 77.54 in 2008 and 2009.

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