Tendulkar, down and under

Tendulkar wouldn't like this piece of statistic, especially when he has such a fantastic Test record in the country which has dominated cricket during his tenure as the world's premier batsman, reports Atreyo Mukhopadhyay.

Forty-one centuries in ODIs, seven against Australia, none Down Under. Sachin Tendulkar wouldn't like this piece of statistic, especially when he has such a fantastic Test record (1522 runs at 58.53 with 6 tons) in the country which has dominated cricket during his tenure as the world's premier batsman.

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And if India don't reach the finals of the tri-series, he has just two more games to hit one.

Tendulkar has played 36 ODIs in Australia and, given the rate he scores centuries in this form of the game, he could have scored at least three in Bradman country. The 93 he made against Pakistan in Hobart in 2000 remains his highest, and his ODI average in Australia (32.57) too is well below his lofty standards (career average of 43.95).

He doesn't have too many half-centuries here either — just eight.

The delivery he got on Tuesday was the last thing he would have wanted, or any batsman for that matter. Lasith Malinga's sling-arm action means right-handers expect the ball to leave them on most occasions, especially when the ball is new and there is no reverse swing. The one that got Tendulkar did move away from him, but only after straightening in the air after leaving the bowler's hand.