Top players likely to skip ODI series vs Kiwis

New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) Some of India's top cricketers are likely to miss the ODI series against New Zealand next month with the Cricket Board planning to send them to South Africa to prepare for the Test series there.

India has never won a Test series in South Africa yet and the BCCI is keen to send the senior cricketers well before the start of the rubber to get fully acclimatised to the conditions.

"We are planning to send the key Test players to South Africa early to prepare for the series. The conditions in South Africa are quite different and we want to give our players enough time to come to terms with the conditions" a BCCI source said.

New Zealand are scheduled to play three Tests and five one-dayers in India from November 4 to December 10.

India, Australia arrive for final ODI in Goa

STAFF WRITER 19:54 HRS IST

Margao, Oct 21 (PTI) India and Australia today arrived here from Vishakapatnam ahead of the third and final one-dayer scheduled to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday.

After the first ODI was washed off in Kochi, India won the second match by five wickets yesterday at Vizag to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The Australians arrived here with only 12 playing members after injured speedster Doug Bollinger and key middle order batsman Michael Hussey flew home at the conclusion of the second match.

Cricket Australia's Communications advisor Lachy Patterson, who is traveling with the visiting team, said that no replacements have been called for as the October 24 fixture was the concluding tie of the rubber.

"Yes, that's correct. We have come here with 12 players.