 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Sachin Tendulkar, who will undergo a fitness test on Tuesday in a bid to make the team for the Test series in the West Indies, had a light practice session at the Mumbai Cricket Association ground, at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on Monday.
The master batsman batted for around 40 minutes against local club bowlers.
He faced both spinners and pacers and once even attempted an aerial flick shot, but the leading edge ended up on the off-side.
His brother Ajit and former India physio Andrew Leipus watched from the sidelines as he went displayed an arry of strokes in his last net session before Tuesday morning's fitness test at the same venue.
If declared fit, Tendulkar will be included in the team, to be named on May 24, for the four-Test series in the West Indies, in June.
After the fitness test, Tendulkar will fly to London later in the evening to consult Dr Andrew Wallace, who performed the surgery on his shoulder in March. Tendulkar feels a discussion with the doctor would help him make a final decision whether to tour the West Indies or not.
Last week, Tendulkar put himself through a strenuous fitness programme at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai, under the guidance of Leipus and fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan.
Also read: 'Sachin has 5-6 years cricket left in him'
Earlier, there was some drama at the entrance of the MCA ground, as the security guard, in a bid to prevent the media from entering, refused to open the gates for even Tendulkar and his brother Ajit.
A surprised Tendulkar could only smile from inside his car as the guard failed to recognise him. Perhaps, a rare occurence in the great man's own city.
There was a minor mishap too, as two vehicles belonging to the electronic media banged into each other as they were leaving the by the entry gate. While the crash was just accidental, a few print journalists couldn't help joking that the war between the television news channels has become physical now.
Photograph: JEWELLA MIRANDA