Hogg eyes Tendulkar's wicket

Agencies

Posted online: Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 1439 hrs IST

Adelaide, January 24:
Brad Hogg has made Sourav Ganguly his bunny by dismissing him four times in the current series, but he is eager to take Sachin Tendulkar's wicket on Friday, after the unbeaten centurion roughed him up on the first day of the fourth and final cricket Test.

Hogg had Ganguly leg before on Thursday to put the skids under India but Tendulkar, along with VVS Laxman, engineered a recovery and the visitors finished the first day at 309 for five.

"I have not got many Test wickets but I have had him (Ganguly) on all occasions except one in this series when I have played," said Hogg, who was omitted for the third Test in Perth.

But he did not hide the fact that he would like nothing better than to get Tendulkar on the morrow, after the master batsman held the Indian innings together with an unbeaten 124.

"It has been fantastic playing against him (Tendulkar). Unfortunately, he roughed me up a bit today," the left-arm chinaman bowler said.

Tendulkar took a special liking to Hogg's bowling and repeatedly used his feet to cart the spinner to the boundary and over it, but Hogg was not disheartened by the harsh treatment.

"Hopefully, I can get him tomorrow (Friday)," he said after the day's play.

India has posted more than 300 runs on the first day and Hogg admitted the hosts had work to do.

"We have to bat well to get ahead in the match."

The wicket is expected to help spinners but Hogg felt that would happen only late in the game.

"The pitch will start to take turn late on day four and five only," the Western Australian said.