Matured Tendulkar is more dangerous: Caddick

Former England pacer Andrew Caddick reckons present-day Tendulkar, who has changed for the better over the years, is a huge threat for hosts

Matured Tendulkar is more dangerous: Caddick

Former England pacer Andrew Caddick reckons present-day Tendulkar, who has changed for the better over the years, is a huge threat for hosts

Former England pacer Andrew Caddick sure knows what it's like to face a batting attack comprising an in-form Sachin Tendulkar. In a career spanning 62 Tests, Caddick has played India just twice -- at Headingley (3rd Test, August, 2002) and The Oval (4th Test, September, 2002) -- of which in the Leeds Test he saw Tendulkar pile up a meticulous 193 in the first innings as India beat the English by an innings and 46 runs. Incidentally, it was Caddick, who got Tendulkar out leg-before in that match.

India batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar gets a short delivery from
England pacer Andrew Caddick away during the Headingley Test
in August 2002.u00a0 Tendulkar scored 193 as India won by an innings
and 46 runs

It's no wonder that the 42-year-old reckoned a matured Tendulkar can pose a real threat to England in the upcoming four-Test series beginning next week at Lord's. "Sachin has changed a lot in the last few years, and for the better," Caddick said yesterday.

"He has matured and is no more as erratic as he used to be. This current Sachin is more dangerous than the older one, and if he gets a hundred at Lord's, it will definitely be special," added Caddick, who quit the game a couple of years ago and finished with a tally of 234 Test victims at an average of almost 30 with an economy rate of little over three runs per over.

Tendulkar pulls one against South Africa in the latest Test India
played in Cape Town in January. He scored 146 & 14.

Sehwag is another batsman, who can make an instant impact in any form of the game, and India will sorely miss him in the first two Tests, felt Caddick. "Sehwag's absence will definitely affect India a lot. They have world-class players but Sehwag brings a different element to this batting line-up. He will be sorely missed for the renowned swashbuckling style with which he gets on top of the bowlers. But it's a four-Test series, so India can expect some respite if he joins later."

Caddick however felt that if there's one worry for the visitors, it has to be their bowling. "India's concern will be bowling. Zaheer Khan is a world-class bowler and a lot will depend on him. Harbhajan Singh will need to be at his best since he will always be compared with Graeme Swann during the series. Harbhajan and Swann will be a good contest. Some Indian bowlers like Sreesanth are short of match practice. England's top order will be a challenge for this bowling unit," he said.

As for the outcome of the series, the Somerset veteran of nearly two decades, refrained from making a prediction. "It's going to be anu00a0 interesting series. England is ahead in the bowling front, but other than that, the two teams are evenly poised. I just can't make any prediction. The series will be tight," he signed off.