Melbourne, Dec 31: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar has termed the SCG as his "favourite ground" outside India and hoped to continue his love affair with the stadium in the second cricket Test against Australia, starting January 3.
Tendulkar averages a staggering 221 with two centuries and a double century from just four Tests at the SCG, with the highest score of unbeaten 241.
"The SCG has obviously been my favourite ground away from India," Tendulkar said.
"It's a terrific ground, a special place. I love the atmosphere. It's wonderful. There are these certain grounds where you walk out there feeling you're going to do well and the SCG is one of those grounds where I feel comfortable," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.
Of the 59 venues where Tendulkar has played Test cricket in his illustrious 22-year-old career, the batting ace has only averaged better at Dhaka and Mirpur in Bangladesh.
SCG has always had a special place in Tendulkar's career but it remains to be seen whether he can achieve the elusive 100th international century at his favourite overseas ground, which probably would be his last Test in Sydney.
And with a combination of Tendulkar's date with history, Australia's win in Melbourne and fine weather forcast for the second Test, the SCG Trust and Cricket New South Wales are also hoping to lift the ticket sales for the next match of the series.
Till date a modest 14,600 tickets have been sold for day one, 8,500 for day two, almost 7000 for day three and 1600 for day four.
And Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert had described the figures as disappointing. "With Tendulkar chasing his 100th hundred and given his record at the SCG we hope that translates into a big walk-up," Gilbert said.
"The attendance in Melbourne was a record so the interest is certainly there this week. It's been a late start to the international season given Australia was in South Africa but we're confident sales will pick up."
