'Hype will make it tough for Tendulkar'

NEW DELHI, India (CMC/IANS):West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said the hype around Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international hundred could make it tough for the batting maestro.

Gibson tried to deflect questions about Tendulkar being on the verge of scoring his 100th international century.

"I was not aware of the milestone and haven't thought much about it," he said. "But I feel if there is too much hype, it would be tough for Tendulkar.

"But Tendulkar is a legend and he would get it anyway, any time soon."

West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul said, however, the team was aware of Tendulkar's impending milestone, but they are focused on playing good cricket.

"We know that Tendulkar is on the verge of a personal milestone, but our target is to play good cricket," he said. "We have to stick to our plan."

Tendulkar scored his 99th international hundred against South Africa during the World Cup earlier this year.

He came close in Mohali, where he scored a match-winning 85 against Pakistan in the semi-final.

A dream final awaited him in his home town of Mumbai, but Tendulkar disappointed everybody by scoring 18 at the Wankhede Stadium.

miserable summer

The hype during the England tour was built around Tendulkar's 100th century, but he disappointed again in what turned out to be a miserable English summer for India, who failed to win anything during the tour.

Tendulkar came close to collecting the landmark hundred in the fourth and the final Test at The Oval. He scored a fighting 91 and stitched 114 runs with Amit Mishra.

But once Tendulkar was dismissed, India suffered a collapse, losing five wickets for just 21 runs, and gifted an innings and eight runs win to England, who swept the Test series 4-0.

A toe injury ruled out Tendulkar from the subsequent five-match ODI series in England, which the hosts won 3-0, and also the return ODI series against England at home.