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Aussies to turn up the heat on Tendulkar

October 22, 2003
 World champions Australia see their forthcoming one-day tri-series in India as a chance to unsettle Sachin Tendulkar before the test series starting in December, paceman Andy Bichel said on Tuesday.

Ricky Ponting's one-day side will fly out of Sydney airport on Wednesday for the tri-series, which also includes New Zealand, starting on Thursday.

Bichel said Australia, who host India for the four-Test series in December and January, were keen to crush any sign of confidence from 30-year-old Tendulkar, one-day cricket's leading runscorer and test cricket's fifth-highest scorer.

Bichel, 33, a World Cup winner earlier this year, will lead Australia's pace attack after injuries to new-ball bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.

"That (bowling to Tendulkar) is the toughest challenge," Bichel told reporters in Sydney.

"We've got to play Sachin (in Tests)

out here this summer coming up, so it would be nice to get some wood on him on his own turf just coming into the Australian summer.

"So we're going to be right on our game and try not to give him some momentum coming into this summer."

Reliable back-up bowler Bichel, who has played 17 Tests and 54 one-day internationals, said the injury-weakened Australia side would not start favourites for the tri-series.

"The guys have been there, they've done it and it's going to be a good test for us, but no doubt we are underdogs coming into this," the Queenslander said.

"Going there in this role is good. It's a great feather in my cap, I suppose, to say that this is what I've worked for.

"This is for all the years of bowling and now I've got an opportunity to get out there and really perform the way I want to."

Source: REUTERS
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