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AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Perth, November 29: Glenn McGrath, having demolished Pakistan, may hold the key to Australia unlocking Sachin Tendulkar's door when Australia's three Test series with India starts at Adelaide Oval on December 10.``I think Glenn McGrath fancies his chances against Tendulkar,'' Australia captain Steve Waugh said today.
``Sachin will go alright out here I'm sure, I'll be very surprised if he doesn't score runs but then again we've got to come up with a plan to work on him.''
Tendulkar's intimidating record against Australia speaks for itself, emphasising the importance of McGrath winning their duel.He has played 71 Tests for 5,612 runs at an average of 56.69 and against Australia, he has played nine Tests yielding 824 runs at 58.86 with four centuries.
However, Waugh said it was important his side did not focus solely on the Indian skipper because batsmen Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly and leg-spinner Anil Kumble were also world-class players.
``They've got some other really good players in their side,I think Dravid will be just as big a danger in Australia as Tendulkar,'' Waugh said.
``He's got a really good technique and excellent temperament so we certainly don't want to get carried away with one player.''
After an uncharacteristically sluggish start to the summer, McGrath ripped through the Pakistani top and middle order in the third Test to snare 4-49 and help Australia complete a clean sweep of their three Test series yesterday.
The Australian camp believes Tendulkar is prone to snicking a rising ball around off-stump and he is certain to be tested with plenty of short deliveries aimed at the body.
Australia are brimming with confidence after a faultless performance against Pakistan, winning the third Test by an innings and 20 runs at the WACA ground for only the seventh clean sweep in their history.
``I'm looking forward to playing India,'' Waugh said.
``It's going to be a great challenge for us, they haven't got a great record away from home but I've got a feeling they're a bit morehard-nosed than they have been in the past touring Australia.''
``If we relax and get too carried away with how we played against Pakistan, we'll certainly be in trouble but if we continue the same standard I can't see any reason why we can't be successful.''
Following the Adelaide Oval series opener, the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starts on Boxing Day followed by the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 2.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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