PERTH: Australia’s pace spearhead Peter Siddle doesn’t think he has got a hold on Sachin Tendulkar, in contrary to the claim made by the home team’s wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
“The times I’ve bowled to Sachin, I probably have (been fortunate). I’m probably lucky enough I’ve got him two times in Melbourne. But in Sydney a couple of other blokes got him,” Siddle said on Tuesday.
“We’re building the pressure and whether it’s against Sachin or against Dravid, or any of their batters, if I can build the pressure and it happens from the other end, we’re going to get the breakthrough,” he said.
Haddin had on Monday claimed that the Australia pacers, especially Siddle, has found a weakness in the armour of Tendulkar, whose quest for a 100th international century will restart in Perth from Friday.
The Victorian fast bowler also doesn’t think that the pressure of scoring his 100th international ton is bogging down Tendulkar.
“He is still averaging about 70 or 80 so he’s still not doing too bad. It’s going to be around the corner and hopefully about in three Tests time when he’s not here.
“If we can keep the pressure going, whether we get his wicket straightaway or we keep getting wickets at the other end, the pressure will build on him,” Siddle said.
Siddle claimed his 100th Test wicket in Sydney last week but he is far from being satisfied with the achievement.
“It obviously is a big achievement but I don’t want to stop there. I want to keep taking wickets whether that’s a 110 or 150 or 300, you never know. At the moment it’s all about moving forward each game and doing enough to keep winning Test matches for Australia.”
In the ongoing series, the 28-year-old fast bowler has taken 11 wickets in two Tests so far at an average of 22.55, and he credits his improved fitness for the impressive show.
“Over the last five or six years, I’ve been up and down with injury. I had some tough times but I think the disappointment of getting dropped in Sri Lanka did hit a bit of a spot in me and I knew I had to work on a few things,” Siddle said.
“Ever since then I’ve been a bit stronger and bowling well and injury free. Everything I’m doing at training is working.” (PTI)