The Hindu : Sport : Tendulkar works out with Leipus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Sport

Sport

Tendulkar works out with Leipus

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Ganesan

EXPERT ADVICE: Physio Andrew Leipus interacts with Sachin Tendulkar after a workout.

Chennai: Sachin Tendulkar had brief nets at the MRF Pace Foundation here on Tuesday. Recovering from a shoulder injury, he also held consultations with former Indian team physio Andrew Leipus, who arrived here in the morning.

Tendulkar appeared in no discomfort as he drove balls chucked at him from 16 yards straight down the ground, his high left elbow prominent. The session lasted about 20 minutes.

Earlier in the day, he underwent tubing, scapula stability, and pilates routines aimed at strengthening his shoulder and abdominal muscles at the hotel gym under the eyes of Leipus and trainer Ramji Srinivasan.

Tendulkar will in all probability undergo a fitness test in Mumbai on either May 22 or 23 as BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah has indicated. He is also likely to seek clearance from London-based surgeon Dr. Andrew Wallace who operated on his right shoulder in March. After nearly an hour at the MRF Pace Foundation gym, where the focus was on weight and strength training, he put his pads on and proceeded to the nets.

He had fondly remembered his early days at the MRF Pace Foundation on Monday. "I first came here as a 13-year-old for pace bowling trials. Fortunately my brother Ajit asked me to carry by pads along!" The rest is history.

After his batting stint, Tendulkar concentrated on speed and endurance training with Leipus and Ramji monitoring his every move. Leipus was not willing to air his views on his fitness though.

Tendulkar rounded off his training for the day by working on the state-of-the-art gyrotonic machine, an equipment with spirals and circles.

India paceman Lakshmipathy Balaji, recuperating from a stress fracture of the lower back, was present at the Pace Foundation.

"Chennai has always proved a lucky venue for Tendulkar. I hope he regains complete fitness here and travels to the West Indies," he said.

Balaji has resumed bowling. "Right now I am bowling from a shortened run-up, at around 60 to 70 per cent of my pace.

"I will gradually increase it and bowl full clip in around three to four weeks' time."

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