Adjusting to NZ conditions will be tough - Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar, who has toured New Zealand six times, has said the toughest task for India will be to adjust to the harsh local conditions. Tendulkar was confident that the seniors in the squad would help the younger players adjust, but he has ruled himself out of contention for the two Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand.

"It is a fairly new team and the challenge is definitely there. Playing in New Zealand, where the conditions are going to be tough, is a completely different experience," Tendulkar said in Mumbai.

Tendulkar said the wind plays an important role in venues like Wellington and one has to be wary of the changing conditions. "In places like Wellington from one end a bowler comes at 135kph with the breeze behind him and then suddenly you are facing someone else who is very slow and there is no wind. With the wind behind the bowler it affects the batsman as he can't keep his eyes open long. So it becomes tough as one needs to change the bat swing, balance and the rest."

India's tour of New Zealand was extended to include a third Test and a second Twenty20 international. The extra fixtures were included at the expense of the tour match which means India will have no practice games during their visit that includes two Twenty20 matches, five ODIs and three Tests. India will arrive in New Zealand on February 20, eight days earlier than originally scheduled, and will begin the tour with a Twenty20 match in Christchurch on February 25.

Napier will host the additional Test, the second of the three-match series, from March 26 to 30. The reworked schedule resulted in the dates for the second Twenty20 game and the first three ODIs being brought forward. The three-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln between the ODIs and Tests has also been scrapped.

The axed practice match drew flak from former players but Tendulkar played it down. "International calendar is such that we need to adjust to such situations but it should not be a worry," he said.

Tendulkar pointed out that even if there were many rookies on the New Zealand trip the seniors in the management could guide them. "It is going to be a learning experience for the first-timers," he said. "We have a good balance of experience and youth and the seniors and coaches will guide the newcomers."

Asked if he would make himself available for the two Twenty20 clashes on February 25 and 27, Tendulkar said he did not want to "disturb" the balance of the Indian squad. Tendulkar hasn't played a Twenty20 international after featuring in India's maiden Twenty20 match, against South Africa in 2006, and said he had no intention to do so now.

In 2007 he took his name out of contention for the Twenty20 World Cup, opting to take a break. "I was tired and wanted to take a break after the England trip in 2007," said Tendulkar. "It was a conscious decision not to play then and I did not want to have feeling of not being able to give my best. I do not want to disturb the present winning combination. The team is doing well and I do not want to be part of the Twenty20 set-up."

India last toured New Zealand in 2002-03 and were beaten 0-2 in the Tests and 2-5 in the ODIs.