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 New
Delhi, Oct 23: The absence of "three of the world's best fast
bowlers" due to injury would not hamper his team's success, but
present an opportunity for the youngsters to prove themselves,
Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting said. "Definitely the
job is a bit difficult without them (Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie
and Brett Lee), but it is also a good chance for the younger players
coming in to prove themselves," Ponting said on arriving in
city last night.
Three-time World
Champions Australia are in India to play a triangular limited overs
cricket series, New Zealand being the third team. India take on New
Zealand in the opening day-night match in Chennai today while
Australia play their first match against the hosts in Gwalior on
October 26. The Australian team arrived in Chennai last night via 
Singapore to a quiet welcome. Former Australian Test captain and
national selector Allan Border traveled with the team. Ponting said
the replacements for the three established bowlers were just as
good. "They are the world's best bowlers, and their absence
does make a difference. But the replacements we have got for them
are equally good."
"During the
World Cup too, we were without the services of a couple of players,
but then Andy Bichel came in and proved himself." "It is a
great opportunity for Nathan Bracken and others to prove that they
are better than the guys who are out of the team," Ponting
said. Swashbuckling opening batsman Adam Gilchrist said the
conditions in India heavily favoured the batsmen, and so the loss of
the major strike bowlers would not put additional pressure on the
Australian batters.
"Indian
conditions -- flat tracks and fast outfields -- are conducive to big
totals. So whatever the bowling, it is always a big run chase, we
realised that last time when we came here (in 2001)," Gilchrist
said. Ponting said winning in India was as tough as defending the
World Cup but his team had the players to accomplish the task.
"India is a difficult place to win but we have the experience,
and the players who have played here before and so know the
conditions better." "And we won the last time we played
here," the Australian captain said. The
Australian squad (Agencies)
Published: Thursday, October 23, 2003
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