Rising star Gurinder Sandhu to face India in tour match

Sydney: Australia`s rising pace bowling star Gurinder Sandhu was Thursday selected to bowl at India`s batsmen in their opening tour match later this month.

The 21-year-old speedster, born in Australia to Indian parents, was chosen in a Cricket Australia XI squad for a pair of two-day matches against the tourists at Adelaide`s Glenelg Oval on November 24-25.

Sandhu, the first player of Indian heritage to play for New South Wales, will spearhead the developmental XI`s attack.

Sandhu, whose father emigrated from the Punjab more than 30 years ago, represented Australia A earlier this year.

Cricket Australia talent manager Greg Chappell said Sandhu has "performed consistently well at domestic level and under-age international level".

"He was very impressive in the two four-day matches against South Africa A in August this year and we expect that he will perform well against this high-quality team," Chappell said.

Sandhu last season won the Steve Waugh Medal as the New South Wales cricketer of the season.

CA XI - Ashton Turner (capt), Ryan Carters, Alex Gregory, Sam Grimwade, Sebastian Gotch, Josh Lalor, David Moody, Jonte Pattison, Gurinder Sandhu, Matthew Short, Kelvin Smith, Nick Stevens