The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Tendulkar declared fit

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Sunday, Oct 24, 2004

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Tendulkar declared fit

By Our Special Correspondent

READY FOR BATTLE: Sachin Tendulkar, who has been declared fit to play in the Nagpur Test, returning after a practice session in Mumbai on Saturday. Tendulkar's son Arjun is in the foreground. -- PTI

MUMBAI, OCT. 23. Ending several weeks of suspense, Sachin Tendulkar announced his return to Test cricket at the MIG Ground here on Saturday morning.

A calm and composed Tendulkar told reporters he was feeling "very confident" and ready and available for the third Test against Australia at Nagpur beginning on Tuesday.

The Indian team's physiotherapist, Andrew Leipus, also appeared relieved. "We can breathe easy now. He will be on the plane to Nagpur tomorrow and will play the Test there. He's not feeling stiff around the elbow,'' he said.

Tendulkar arrived at the ground at 7.30 a.m. for his crucial practice session, essentially to exert a little more pressure on his left elbow and get over fears of recurrence of pain. He chose to bat without the arm-guard. "I was comfortable without the arm guard,'' he said.

The Nagpur Test will be his 115th and at the venue his average is over 156, thanks to three centuries, including an unbeaten double century.

Towards the end of his third stint of batting, which lasted a little under 10 minutes, he decided he was "done with the rest and practice" and that he should get down to serious business. He hit a couple of shots quickly removed his gloves and gave the green signal to Leipus.

The pitch on which he faced Paras Mhambrey and three other club bowlers did not have even a blade of grass. The bowlers pitched at a length that brought the top hand into play, making conspicuous the high elbow finish. Tendulkar appeared free of pain, while making backfoot drives and flick shots.

Same bat

PTI reports from Kolkata

Meanwhile, Board doctor Anant Joshi said here Tendulkar could play with his normal heavy bat. ``I don't think the weight of the bat really matters in this case. Sachin can use his normal bat,'' Dr. Joshi, the head of BCCI medical panel, said here.

Dr. Joshi said he had examined Tendulkar's affected elbow two days ago and was fully satisfied with his recovery.

``Two days ago his condition was very good following which we decided that the load on his hand could be progressively increased and a final decision about his availability for the third Test be taken by team physio Andrew Leipus this morning,'' Dr. Joshi said.

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