MUMBAI, DECEMBER 16: Collecting his second Castrol Cricketing Award for Excellence at a glittering function at the Cricket Club of India lawns on Friday evening, former India skipper Sachin Tendulkar gave out a veiled message for the Indian team to brace up for upcoming series against formidable Australia in the New Year.``We played well against Australia when they toured India the last time but it wasn't the case when we went Down Under, but I hope we'll do well in the coming series,'' the master batsman said.Receiving the award for a second time, Tendulkar also hoped that his colleagues Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath (the other contenders for the award besides Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly) would also be fit in time for the series.``Hopefully these two will run through the Australian team,'' he remarked.There is a lot to read in what Tendulkar says. A man of many a season he knows that Australia (on a roll having recorded 12 consecutive Test wins) love to thrive on challenges and given the drubbing during their last visit would now look to settle scores.New coach of the Indian team John Wright has also underlined the fact that one shouldn't get carried away with victories against Zimbabwe. ``We are going to be up against the World Champions next year,'' he has warned.For sure India's showing against first Bangladesh and later Zimbabwe cannot be discounted with the youngsters getting a chance to prove their credentials. The new finds - Yuvraj Singh (who received the award for being the Castrol Young Cricketer of the Year), Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Hemang Badani couldn't have asked for a better opportunity and will now face the real test against Australia.A shy but beaming Yuvraj Singh said it was a ``really special occasion'' for him to receive the award and that it was a big appreciation of the efforts put in.A gentleman that he is Javagal Srinath, while speaking at the awards function, showed high regards for new pace sensation Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar stating ``Of late the best find have been Zaheer and Agarkar,'' that was responded to with a huge applause. When quizzed about his rotater cuff injury Srinath said, ``My shoulder is perfect,'' jocularly adding ``I've passed it on to Anil (Kumble).''On his part Kumble said he should be fit before the Aussie arrive.The Mumbai Ranji team that won the Ranji Trophy for the 34th time this season was also felicitated on the occasion.Meanwhile, the new consultant to the Indian team Geoff Marsh was on his way to Bangalore to ``groom youngsters'' at the National Cricket Academy.At the same time coach John Wright - having stayed with the Indian team for over nine months - left for home and will be back after celebrating X'mas and New Year with his family. Ganguly absent Captain Saurav Ganguly was conspicuous by his absence at the Castrol awards function on Friday night.The stylish left-hander, who was one of the five contenders for the award won by Sachin Tendulkar, chose to be at home in Calcutta instead.Ganguly's decision to skip the function didn't go down well with some of the top former India cricketers who graced the evening.Being the captain of India missing a function for not being the recipient of the award doesn't speak well, felt one of them.
