Sachin Tendulkar hits a six, on Tuesday

Calcutta: Sachin Tendulkar is struggling with the expectation created by being on the cusp of a unique 100th international century, according to former Australia fast bowler Merv Hughes.

With the media constantly speculating as to when Sachin will reach the milestone, Hughes told Fox Sports News that the pressure may be starting to affect Test cricket’s highest run-scorer.

He even went as far as saying that Sachin was a choker, although his tongue seemed to be planted firmly in his cheek.

“It’s nine months since he’s scored a hundred, that’s like me not eating for two days,” Hughes joked.

 

“We’ve heard talk of choking … he batted really well, he was really positive, and then I suppose late in the day it looked as though he just shut up shop so he could be there tomorrow.

“Everyone’s making it (the record) a big deal and there’s been a lot of media about it as he’s been on the verge for so long. It’s got to be playing on his mind, there’s no doubt about that.”

Hughes compared the overwhelming emphasis on Sachin making a hundred to that facing Ricky Ponting.

“Ricky Ponting’s scored three 50s in his last five knocks and people are saying he should be dropped. Sachin, OK, he’s not getting a hundred but he’s getting 60s, 70s and 80s and then falling short of that magic mark.

“If I made an 80 in Test cricket I’d be absolutely thrilled but people are saying to Sachin, ‘bad luck’.”

The Victorian great also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Decision Review System (DRS), calling for consistency in the wake of the retrospective no-ball called against Peter Siddle after he had clean-bowled Rahul Dravid.

“If the players can’t use it, I can’t understand how the umpires can,” Hughes said.

“For a ball that close, if he doesn’t call it, why has the umpire got the ability to go to the review system when the players don’t? “Everyone’s saying that the ICC should come over the top and make the decisions. Ultimately, everyone knows that the ICC is run by Indian cricket, so if India don’t want the review system, we’re not going to have the review system.”