GWALIOR, NOV 10: Skipper Sachin Tendulkar said tomorrow's match gave the right opportunity for the team management to try out young pacemen -- Mumbai's Ajit Agarkar and T Kumaran -- ahead of the tough tour of Australia starting later this month.``They are talented guys and have been selected for Australia. They have not got any chance to play competitive cricket and hence tomorrow would be crucial for them to prove themselves,'' Tendulkar told reporters after nets here ahead of tomorrow's third one-day tie against New Zealand.
Tendulkar, who scored his highest one-day total of 186 not out, said the team was confident of maintaining its winning form, but was cautious. ``We cannot be overconfident as New Zealand is a good team and knows how to bounce back.''
``The wicket is full of runs and I don't see any problem for our batsmen to score on this flat pitch. It's a good track for batting,'' Tendulkar observed.
Tendulkar said due to dew in the morning, team bowling first may get some benefit in the form of swing for their pace bowlers. The Indian captain indicated that Orissa seamer Debashis Mohanty would be opening the attack with Agarkar. ``Though neither bowler has played of late, Mohanty was impressive in Toronto and Agarkar is a quick learner.''
``Whatever wicket they give us, we'll play on it and try and win the matches,'' opined New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.