Stage set for Sachin Tendulkar vs Ricky Ponting clash
The stage is set for the heavyweight crunch battle between Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting as India clash with Australia in the second quarterfinal of the World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera here Thursday.
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It will also be the last time the cricket world will see the two greats crossing each other in a match which can only be called a battle royale.
Fans are eagerly waiting for Tendulkar to get his 100th international century here. It was also the same venue whre Tendulkar got his maiden double century in Tests way back in 1999 against New Zealand.
This is also the ground where legends like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar achieved historical landmarks.
Kapil broke New Zealand Riichard Hadlee’s record to become the highest wicket-taker in Tests, while Gavaskar became the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Tests.
The International Cricket COuncil (ICC) wants Tendulkar to achieve the feat at his home ground of Wankhede in a fairytale final on April 2.
But fans at Motera wants Tendulkar achieve the feat here.
Earlier, India captain M S Dhoni said that mental strength will be the key when they face
defending champions Australia in the quarterfinal.
?The mental element will be very important but at the same time you have to rely on skill. Ultimately it has to reflect on the field and it?s the skill that really helps you give your best on the field. But of course mentally you have to be in a very good frame of mind to?execute your plans,? he said.
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Dhoni wants his boys to keep their emotions under control.
Dhoni said the home crowd is a big advantage for the hosts who will face arch rival Pakistan in the semifinal if they win.
The entire country is charged over the match with cricket fans pouring out into the street screaming for India.
“India, India” chants rent the air in cricket mania gripped Ahmedabad as fans head for the Sardar Patel Stadium.
But the mood of the encounter is summed up best by former Australian cricketer Tom Moody speaking to The Telegraph daily.
“It is a pity, but one of the giants has to fall,” he says, regretting that India and Australia could have avoided the face-off in the quarterfinals if they had played better.
