Tendulkar impressed with New Zealand test pitch

Tendulkar, described by his captain Mohammad Azharuddin as an astute judge of a pitch, spent a long time surveying the strip.

``I can only guess but he says it is a good wicket,'' Azharuddin said.

Tendulkar, who is off-limits to the media in New Zealand, was in aggressive mood at India's open-wicket practice on a strip two over from the Test pitch.

He mauled spinners Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Joshi for about 10 sixes over the long-on and mid-wicket boundaries.

``I just wanted the boys to get a feel of the ground but suddenly they started to enjoy the pitch and starting banging it,'' Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad said.

Gaekwad was also happy with the state of the Test pitch.

Whichever team wins the toss is expected to take first use of helpful bowling conditions but the pitch is expected to flatten out to an excellent batting surface.

New Zealand are likely to go into the game with a four-pronged pace attack and coach Steve Rixon expects there will be plenty of help for them.

``I wanted to see something with plenty of bounce and the pitch looks a hard one. It is not an even coating of grass but there is a little bit of grass there,'' he said.

Gaekwad will name his squad of 12 on Thursday with the only doubt being the final make-up of the bowling attack. India are debating whether to include another seamer in Debashish Mohanty or a second spinner in Harbhajan Singh.

Singh is an exceptional talent and with the pitch containing less grass than India expected, he may get the nod with Sourav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja and Tendulkar hustling through some gentle seamers as a back-up.

Jadeja did not train because of minor aches but Gaekwad expected him and Navjot Sidhu to take their places at the top of the order.

Sidhu has a foot infection but trained freely and is keen to play his 50th test.