Australian spin legend Shane Warne has little doubt that Sachin Tendulkar will get his 100th international century on the present tour Down Under, but he hopes the iconic Indian batsman attains the feat in the first Test, starting December 26.
"I feel Sachin would get his 100th century (in Australia), but I wish he does so in Melbourne," Warne said.
Warne, who in his entire career could claim Tendulkar's wicket only thrice in Test matches, has enormous respect for the champion Indian batsman whom he rates as the best willow-wielder of his time.
The first match against Australia will be Tendulkar's 185th Test. He has so far scored 15,183 runs from 303 innings, with 51 centuries, at an average of 56.03 in five-day games.
Tendulkar also has 18,111 runs from 453 ODIs, with 48 centuries under his belt, at an average of 45.16.
Warne expects Indian batting line-up to do well
Tendulkar, though, has struggled to add to his tally of 99 international centuries this year -- his last ton being 111 against South Africa at Nagpur in March during the World Cup.
His last Test century was also against South Africa -- 146 at the Newlands, Cape Town, in January, and has been without a ton in the longest format of the game in his last 14 innings.
On the present tour, India revisits Melbourne again in February, though it would be for a 50-over match against Australia on February 3.
Meanwhile, Warne also expects the famed Indian batting line-up to do well in the upcoming series.
"I think their batters, especially Rahul Dravid, will make big runs. He's a quality person, a quality act, a quality player.
"India has a quality team. In Test cricket we've seen them, against the West Indies. Their batsmen will do pretty well," said Warne, who ended his career with 708 wickets from 145 Tests at a staggering average of 25.42.
'Indian bowlers will have to stay fit'
The former leg-spinner, however, did not boast of an impressive record against India. In 14 Tests against India, Warne captured only 43 wickets, at an average of 47.19.
- Indian bowlers' fitness important
If Warne is confident about India's good showing in the batting department in Australia, he has serious doubts about the visitors' bowling abilities.
"Their bowlers will have to stay fit. If Zaheer Khan or Ishant Sharma get injured, then I think their bowling attack could be quite weak. The Australian batsmen could perform pretty well. I think it's going to come down to how India are going to take 20 wickets with their bowling," he said.
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