No pressure for this ‘century’: Sourav

Soaking in the holiday, and the Melbourne sun, happy families eyeing the cruise liner at the harbour, kids on the giant Ferris wheel, while just across the road, the Lord of the Fries is working like a slave to cater to every demand.

It's Christmas eve, and the Indian team is happy to see the sun this morning. They can now feel the Australian summer at 25 degrees Celsius, and believe the weatherman's predictions for brighter days ahead.

Already things have been panning out better for the visitors in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test — the head groundsman has been unable to roll in a complete green patch in the centre and Brad Hogg is likely to give respite from pace of Brett Lee, Stuart Clarke and Mitchell Johnson at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

And, by the way, the locals here refer to this venue as 'G'.

'G for Ganguly? Not entirely incorrect, considering the contributions of a man who will play his 100th Test here, one who has come along carrying his best form in his 11-year career and is thirsty for more.

Within the Big Three of Indian cricket, Sourav Ganguly has never carried off spotless white flannels as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid have, but Ganguly has a chance to outdo the two in his landmark Test match here. Tendulkar has to prove he's vaccinated from the nervous nineties, and Dravid has to establish himself all over again in the opener's slot.

Ganguly has few worries over form or slot, having firmly perched at number 5. "It's (the good string of form) gone well for me so far. When I'm in, I look to make the most of it. I feel proud to be a member of a select club, but playing my 100th Test wouldn't add to any extra pressure," he says modestly.

... contd.

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