Tendulkar impressed with New Zealand test pitch
AFP
16 December 1998
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Dec 16 (AFP) - Star Indian batsman Sachin
Tendulkar Wednesday gave his blessing to the Carisbrook Park pitch
where his country will meet New Zealand in the first cricket Test
starting Friday.
Tendulkar, described by his captain Mohammad Azharuddin as an astute
judge of a pitch, spent a long time surveying the strip.
``I can only guess but he says it is a good wicket,'' Azharuddin said.
Tendulkar, who is off-limits to the media in New Zealand, was in
aggressive mood at India's open-wicket practice on a strip two over
from the Test pitch.
He mauled spinners Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Joshi for
about 10 sixes over the long-on and mid-wicket boundaries.
``I just wanted the boys to get a feel of the ground but suddenly they
started to enjoy the pitch and starting banging it,'' Indian coach
Anshuman Gaekwad said.
Gaekwad was also happy with the state of the Test pitch.
Whichever team wins the toss is expected to take first use of helpful
bowling conditions but the pitch is expected to flatten out to an
excellent batting surface.
New Zealand are likely to go into the game with a four-pronged pace
attack and coach Steve Rixon expects there will be plenty of help for
them.
``I wanted to see something with plenty of bounce and the pitch looks a
hard one. It is not an even coating of grass but there is a little bit
of grass there,'' he said.
Gaekwad will name his squad of 12 on Thursday with the only doubt
being the final make-up of the bowling attack. India are debating
whether to include another seamer in Debashish Mohanty or a second
spinner in Harbhajan Singh.
Singh is an exceptional talent and with the pitch containing less
grass than India expected, he may get the nod with Sourav Ganguly,
Ajay Jadeja and Tendulkar hustling through some gentle seamers as a
back-up.
Jadeja did not train because of minor aches but Gaekwad expected him
and Navjot Sidhu to take their places at the top of the order.
Sidhu has a foot infection but trained freely and is keen to play his
50th test.
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