News

Tendulkar may miss first Test against Australia

Sachin Tendulkar may not be fit in time for the first Test against Australia next month

Wisden Cricinfo staff
15-Sep-2004


Sachin Tendulkar: When can I play again? © Getty Images
Sachin Tendulkar may not be fit in time for the first Test against Australia, which starts in Bangalore on October 6. Andrew Leipus, the team's physiotherapist, said that it was the worst injury of Tendulkar's career, and also revealed that the tennis elbow had been aggravated when he was hit by an Ajit Agarkar delivery in Holland.
The Times of India reported Leipus as saying: "Initially, he responded well in the nets in Holland for the first two days and batted well against the spinners. But then he faced the first ball from Ajit Agarkar which he went back to play down - it kind of complicated his recovery process completely."
The target for Tendulkar, according to Leipus, would be to bat 300 balls a day without experiencing any pain and he added, "We're looking for him to grab a bat again in another ten days' time."
Regarding talk that Tendulkar would turn out for the Board President's XI against Australia in their tour game, Leipus had his doubts. "Usually he doesn't bother to play in side games, but since he has been out of practice, he might have thought about giving himself a try in that game and made himself available. But I wouldn't think he would be playing that game."
Tendulkar has been dogged by a number of injuries in the past, but Leipus felt that this was the worst of the lot. "He has had injuries in the past - I wasn't there when he injured his back - but compared to his toe and finger injury, this could be the worst of his career. Just the fact he wasn't able to lift the bat has been extremely frustrating to him."
The first Test, in what has been billed as the series of the year, could set the tone for the rest of the four-match contest, and Australia are well aware that they haven't managed to win a series in India since Bill Lawry's team triumphed in 1969-70.