Sachin may miss 1st Test

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar may not be fit in time for India's 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 his career, and also revealed that the tennis elbow had been aggravated when he was hit by an Ajit Agarkar delivery in Holland.

Leipus was, however, cautiously optimistic about Tendulkar's chances of being fit for next month's home Test series against Australia, saying he expected the injured batsman to pick up a bat "in the next 10 days or so".

He now has only a few weeks to get fit for the first of four Tests against Australia, starting at Bangalore on October 6.

Tendulkar, who is currently undergoing treatment in London for the left elbow injury, has already been excluded by his state team Mumbai for the five-day Irani Cup match between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India starting in Mohali on September 22.

The only other first-class match before the Test series is the three-day game between a Board President's XI and Australia at Hyderabad commencing September 30.

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 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."

Meanwhile Leipus told reporters at Edgbaston on Tuesday that Tendulkar was making progress.

"I spoke to him this (Tuesday) morning. He's still in London receiving specialist treatment. He's feeling greater strength in the elbow but there's still a bit of discomfort."

Leipus, describing the treatment, said: "In basic language it is like a shock treatment, an ultra-sound shock treatment where a large ultra-sound force has gone through the tissues, shakes things up and stimulates the healing process. At the same time he is getting much needed rest.

"He's got one more treatment left and then he'll make his way back to Bombay," explained Leipus who said he had consulted fellow Australian Chris Bradshaw, the doctor of London-based Premiership football side Fulham.

After Bangalore, the remaining three Tests will be played in Madras (October 14-18), Nagpur (Oct 26-30) and Bombay (November 3-7).