Short-pitched bowling way to get Tendulkar: Buchanan

Sydney, Nov 28 (UNI) Short-pitched bowling is the best bet to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar during India's Australian tour next month, feels former Australian coach John Buchanan.

According to Buchanan, video analysis of the Master Blaster reveals that his footwork has become sluggish, especially early in his innings, making him vulnerable to short-pitched deliveries followed by a fuller one.

''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,'' Buchanan told the Herald Sun.

''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.'' "Brett Lee will also be a key man because of his pace." The Aussie also feels that Tendulkar is uncomfortable against left-arm paceers. He was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson in the DLF Cup one-day series in Malaysia last year.

''Mitchell Johnson has bowled very well to Sachin in the past and I'd expect him to trouble him again with his left-arm variety.'' Tendulkar boasts an impressive Test average 54.16 in Australia.

Targetting the Indian genius will be one of the main components of the Australian strategy for the four-Test series against India next month.

Team India will commence their tour Down Under with the first Test beginning at Melbourne on December 26.

UNI