MUMBAI, February 23: The Australians open their tour of India with a match that should -- without much debate -- be their toughest outside the Test matches. Oft-crowned National champions Mumbai have the kind of international class to provide a meaningful challenge to the visitors in the three-day match at the Brabourne Stadium.The game, starting tomorrow, is the kind of platform that hopefuls -- both the discarded and the untested -- will be looking forward to eagerly. The quartet of Vinod Kambli, Paras Mhambrey, Abey Kuruvilla and Nilesh Kulkarni will be hoping for a recall into the National side, while Amol Muzumdar (23) is the finest prospect of the untried young brigade.
Despite Mumbai's riches, only skipper Sachin Tendulkar is a permanent member of the National team. Under the circumstances, a quality display against the Aussies could catapult the stocks of the hopefuls.
``It's a good challenge for the team...The younger ones get a taste of what international cricket is all about,'' saidTendulkar.
Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar -- playing his farewell first-class match -- and Kambli present a formidable line-up to counter the spin sorcerer Warne and experienced paceman Paul Reiffel.
``It is a very big game for the guys. Any youngster will look forward to a match against an international side to parade his credentials. I myself got into the Test side after a century against a Pakistani touring side.'' Manjrekar hoped to sign off with a ``good innings'' and ``give it all.''
Tendulkar had a few words about Kambli and Mhambrey the two key figures in Mumbai's success story this season. The skipper tried to ease the pressure of pre-match expectation by saying that ``it should not be a big issue'' if Kambli fails in this match as he ``has been batting really well of late.''
On Mhambrey, who has taken 35 wickets in six matches this season, Tendulkar said: ``He has added an extra yard of pace and is moving the ball too.''
Coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu gave an idea of the mood in the Mumbaicamp by saying: ``Everyone is keyed up.''
The Aussie think-tank has shorn a bit of glamour from the game by resting the Waugh twins -- Steve and Mark. Paceman Michael Kasprowicz and leg-spinner Stuart MaCgill, too, join the Waughs in the sidelines, according to skipper Mark Taylor after his team's afternoon training session at the Wankhede Stadium.
But Shane Warne is a certainty and his contest with Kambli would be awaited eagerly. It will be the first big test for the classy leg-spinner on Indian tracks and against batsmen whose staple diet is spin.
Though Australia are here with a huge reputation of being the unofficial world champions of cricket, Taylor wasn't prepared to take things lightly. ``They (Mumbai) are the National champions and should give us a good match,'' he opined. The idea of giving his batsmen more time in the middle was best reflected when he said that he would prefer to bat if he won the toss.
Dashing opener Michael Slater, rookie pacemen Adam Dale and Paul Wilson, off-spinnerGavin Robertson and left-hand batsman Darren Lehmann would also be looking forward to cement a place in the Australian Test squad with some good displays here.
With both sides presenting a fine blend of youth and experience the duel promises to more of a battle between the hopefuls.
THE TEAMS
Mumbai (from twelve): Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Sulakshan Kulkarni (wicket-keeper), Amit Pagnis, Sanjay Manjrekar, Vinod Kambli, Amol Muzumdar, Rajesh Sutar, Paras Mhambrey, Rajesh Pawar, Nilesh Kulkarni, Abey Kuruvilla and Santosh Saxena.
Australia: Mark Taylor (captain), Michael Slater, Greg Blewett, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Ian Healy (wicket-keeper), Gavin Robertson, Paul Reiffel, Shane Warne, Paul Wilson and Adam Dale.
Umpires: SK Bansal & Vijay Chopra (both New Delhi)
Hours of play: 1000-1200 hrs; 1240-1440 hrs and 1500-1700 hours
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
