War of Words - Part 1: Operation Tendulkar

Australians are inimitable when in comes to "mind games". Ganguly was good at giving Aussies one or two spoons of their own recipes but will Kumble crumble ?

Here are few starters for India before tour Down Under-2007

1) This is what former coach John Buchanan had to say about Tendulkar

What I've been seeing for a while is that his feet don't move early in his innings and he is not very fluid early on. That makes the good-pace short ball a great weapon. It's something that Australia should be very conscious of this summer. The short ball should be followed by a full one for a favorable result, It doesn't necessarily mean you will get Sachin out with the shorter ball. But you can push him back on his crease and then look for a full ball, which he can tend to squirt to the slips early in his innings when he doesn't have great control

2) Ian Chappell backing Viru adding pressure to selection committee

India has made its first big mistake and the team hasn’t even been selected, let alone set foot on Australian soil. Now was not the right time to give up on Virender Sehwag. Forget about whose nose might have been put out of joint, the Australians still fear Sehwag from the last tour. It’s rare that you have a chance to put one over on the Baggy Green caps, so when the opportunity arises, you grab it with both hands.

3) Border on slow pitches for first two test down under

What we need is to prepare wickets that suit our cricket rather than the Indians. If it is slow and low the Indians really come into the contest. They like that sort of surface. That is the worrying thing for me. You should try and get a bit more bounce, it doesn't have to be sideways movement, then it will suit our cricket.

4) Waugh adding pressure on Indians

They have got a pretty good draw really. I think there is some hope (of an Indian victory) because they are playing at two spinner-friendly venues, Adelaide and Sydney. They will have three good spinners in their squad and that will give them the chance to take 20 wickets. It seems in the past decade in Australia they haven't been able to take 20 wickets. It doesn't matter how many good batters they have got, they can't win a Test unless they can take 20 wickets they have to pick a team capable of taking 20 wickets otherwise they'll get thrashed.

The consoling factor is that OZ media is planning for warm welcome to Tendulkar on probably his last tour to Australia