Tendulkar to have another bone scan

India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who skipped the on-going triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka due to a hairline fracture in his right toe, is feeling better and likely to have another bone scan on August 10.

Sports medicine expert Dr Anant Joshi, who is treating Tendulkar, said on Wednesday the batting maestro "is feeling better" and sounded cheerful when he spoke to him.

"I am hopeful that the injury would heal soon. Because it is a hairline fracture it can't be seen on the X-Ray; that is why we are doing another bone scan," he added.

Asked how soon will Tendulkar be able to join the struggling Indian team in Sri Lanka, Joshi said: "It all depends on how soon the fracture heals. The second bone scan will give us some indication.

"Sachin has also been advised to wear a doughnut-like protection on the injured area to release the pressure on it."

Tendulkar injured his toe while batting against the West Indies in the final league match of the tringular series in Zimbabwe on July 4, but went on to score a hundred and helped India win the match.

He is expected to be fit before the three-Test series against the Lankans, starting on August 14, at Galle.

Mail Cricket Editor