While the rest of his team-mates — with the exception of Harbhajan Singh, down with an upset stomach — stuck to their normal routines, Sachin Tendulkar was hard at work at the corner 'net' at the Adelaide Oval on Friday morning. With fielding coach Robin Singh a willing ally, Tendulkar was working on a specific — how to creatively work balls just outside the off-stump for singles, as opposed to letting them sail harmlessly by to the 'keeper.

Robin ran in and bowled ball after ball for over half an hour, providing Tendulkar with just what he wanted to perfect. At various stages, Tendulkar was pleased, frustrated and thrilled with the results; Friday's exercise merely reiterated the point that even after 18 years of international cricket, the 34-year-old is constantly looking to improve.

It was no surprise, therefore, to hear Suresh Raina speak glowingly of the Tendulkar effect, and how youngsters like himself are fortunate to learn from watching the maestro practice and prepare. “You get to learn a lot by just watching him,” said the Uttar Pradesh left-hander, waiting for his first chance since his recall to the national side after 13 months in the wilderness. “His sessions are always different, he is forever working on something. His ball-selection is very correct. Watching him play and talking to him allows you to learn about playing to situations, about backlift, about driving, movement of feet...”

Brilliant future

Touted as a young man with a brilliant future, the left-hander fell some way short of expectations and went out of the squad after the one-day tour of South Africa in November 2006. A left knee injury necessitated surgery, but he came back a man possessed, scoring bagful of runs for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy and making his way back into international cricket. Now, the wait is on for a place in the eleven, much like Munaf Patel, the Maharashtra paceman who has been more out than in due to injury reasons, but who might yet replace S Sreesanth for Sunday's tie against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

“Being out of the Indian side was really tough, but I used that period to improve my footwork and my fitness,” Raina told newsmen. “I received a lot of support from my team-mates, who used to call me up and tell me to continue my good work in domestic cricket. I have had a good Ranji Trophy and I am striking the ball really well at nets. I am confident that if I do get my chance and if I maintain the same intensity in international cricket, I will do well.”

In the past, Raina batted a lot in the lower middle-order, where he didn't get too many opportunities to play himself in. Asked if that was one of the reasons for his modest record — 612 runs in 36 matches at 26.60 — he replied, “It all depends on the situation of the game. It is not really difficult batting at number six. I have learnt a lot from Yuvraj — talking to him and watching him go about his innings — because he has played a lot at that number himself.

“I have remained very positive, my frame of mind is really different and I am able to read situations and plays better now,” observed Raina. What he didn't add was that it was a matter of biding his time now, and grabbing his chance with both hands when it does arrive.