Gambhir banks on Australia experience to shine in SAfrica

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) After his prolific form in domestic cricket earned him a Test recall against the Proteas, Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir today oozed confidence that his experience of playing on the fast and bouncy tracks of Australia would stand him in good stead in South Africa.

''It would be a great challenge for me in South Africa and my target would be to make best use of the available opportunities. I have played on similar bouncy tracks in Australia while playing there as part of the India A team and I think that would help me adjust to the pitches in South Africa,'' the southpaw told reporters after getting the selectors' nod for the tour.

India will play three Test matches in South Africa and the first begins on December 15 at Johannesburg.

Gambhir was pipped by Wasim Jaffer in the ODI series against South Africa with chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar feeling that the Mumbaikar had a better technique to negotiate the extra pace and bounce in lively South African tracks.

''I never said Gambhir has faulty technique but felt Jaffer is better equipped to deal with the extra bounce and pace there. But Gambhir has scored well in the domestic cricket and gives us an option of having a third opener in the side,'' Vengsarkar reasoned.

Elated with his Test recall Gambhir, however, is not dreaming about World Cup yet.

''I think there is lot of cricket before the World Cup and my focus is now to exploit the opportunity that comes my way,'' he said.

An attacking opener who loves to play his strokes early even in Test matches, Gambhir said he won't have any problem in slipping into the Test mode.

''When I play Test matches, I would be in the Test mode and I can assure that it won't be a problem with me,'' he added.

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