Tendulkar
brutalised the fast bowler at Centurion, taking 18 runs off his
first over and seeing him out of the attack after just three.
World Cup: Tendulkar inspires India
India
were home and hosed by the time Shoaib returned to the attack, although
he did produce an absolute brute of a riser to dismiss Tendulkar
for 98 off 75 balls.
All
of which brings us to India and where their batsmen are at ahead
of the long-awaited series.
The
top-order returned home from Australia with their lofty reputations
intact, even enhanced given India's ordinary record on the road.
On
their day, India's top six are equal to any attack in the world,
but their discomfort against the rising ball was exposed in the
one-day VB Series.
Pakistan pitches 'too slow'
It
was felt in Australia that curators at the four Test venues produced
pitches that were too docile, and it will be interesting to see
the state of Pakistan's decks.
Shoaib
slated Pakistani pitches after last year's Test series defeat of
Bangladesh, saying "there was absolutely nothing in it for
the bowlers and I took wickets just because of my sheer speed".
Lively
surfaces will no doubt assist Shaoib and his pace allies, but India
have already seen how explosive he can be with just an able body
and the wind at his back. |