Tendulkar takes a blow as Indians prepare to open NZ tour

Tendulkar was struck a meaty blow on the thigh when a ball snuck between the flap of his pad and thighpad. He hobbled away and had his leg iced but returned 15 minutes later to bowl in the nets and take an active part in fielding drills.

He was later named in the 12-man squad for the four-day match against the Central Districts (CD) which starts on Monday, although paceman Javagal Srinath and legspinner Anil Kumble were omitted.

Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad said the decision to rest Srinath and Kumble -- who have taken 114 and 204 Test wickets respectively -- was merely to keep them fresh for the more serious part of the tour.

``We don't want to overstrain them. We have played a lot of cricket lately and we certainly don't want to over bowl them,'' he said.

The Indian touring party arrived in New Zealand last week for a tour that will include three Test matches and five one-day internationals.

India will also play two four-day games, the first against CD in Napier, before the first Test opens in Dunedin on December 18.

Vice-captain Ajay Jadeja has the inside running to open the batting with Navjot Sidhu in the Tests after being preferred in the tour opening game in Napier to VVS Laxman.

Gaekwad said the most important aspect of the opening game was for his batsmen to get used to the seaming delivery and the extra bounce.

He said the onus was on members of the Indian squad who have already toured New Zealand -- Sidhu, captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Tendulkar -- to help with the adjustment from the low slow pitches they are used to batting on.

With pitch conditions here likely to favour seam bowling, Srinath would have been lethal with first use of the ball but the tourists have decided to rest the wily campaigner for the game against Wellington starting on Saturday.

News of Srinath's omission was well received in the CD camp, who are in danger of being overawed by the high-flying Indians.

Only two CD players, captain Craig Spearman and top-order batsman Mark Douglas, have played more than 25 first-class matches and the side also includes new cap Jarrod Englefield.

Spearman said Sunday the players had been told to concentrate on their own games.

``They are only humans and that point will be hammered home at our final meeting,'' Spearman said.

``Everyone is excited and looking forward to the game. For many it will be the biggest game of the season and for some the biggest of their life.

Teams

Central: Craig Spearman (captain), Glen Milnes, Mark Douglas, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Jarrod Englefield, Campbell Furlong, Glen Sulzberger, Andrew Penn, Martyn Sigley, Michael Mason, David Blake, Lance Hamilton (two be omitted).

India: Mohammad Azharuddin (captain), Navjot Sidhu, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Nayan Mongia, Debashish Mohanty, Venkatesh Prasad, Robin Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Sunil Joshi (one to omitted).