Mumbai, Nov 01: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting says he feels nervous playing on his home ground and he hopes India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar has the same anxieties when he's playing in Mumbai.

India hosts world champion Australia in a limited-overs tri-series match on Saturday at Wankhede Stadium in Tendulkar's home town.


"Tendulkar has scored well against us. But he will face pressure playing before his home crowd and we will try to get him out early," Ponting told reporters. "I feel pressure when I play before my home crowd."


Tendulkar gets more opportunities to bat in international cricket in Mumbai than Ponting gets on his home ground in Australia's southern island state of Tasmania.


The 30-year-old Tendulkar also scored a century in India's 37-run win over the Australians in Gwalior last week. Indian spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh nullified the Australian batting in that game.


The Australians rebounded from that opening loss with an eight-wicket win over New Zealand, after Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken combined to dismiss the Kiwis for 97.



Indian captain Rahul Dravid said Ponting was misguided if he thought Tendulkar would be under pressure at home.

He said India's main concern was bowling against Australia's top order, which contains Adam Gilchrist, Ponting and Matt Hayden.


"It's a big challenge to bowl to them," Dravid said.
The Australian pace attack is missing Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, who didn't tour due to injuries, and Michael Kasprowicz, who injured a hip before the first match.


But Dravid said the performance of Williams and Bracken against New Zealand proved that the replacements were up to the challenge.



"I have never underestimated the Australians. They have a huge depth as far as talent is concerned."


Ponting said Kasprowicz wouldn't be playing in the next two games in Mumbai and Pune, but would be considered for Australia's fifth game of the series against New Zealand next week. Bureau Report