Tendulkar optimistic for third Test

After missing the first two Tests against Australia with his ongoing tennis-elbow problem, Sachin Tendulkar is "very hopeful" of recovering in time to play in the third match at Nagpur, which starts on October 26.

Tendulkar, whose injury has kept him out of the side since the one-day tournament in Amstelveen in August, has been practising indoors with tennis balls, and believes he will be ready to presume full training "in three or four days".

On Friday, Tendulkar had an appointment with Dr Anant Joshi, a BCCI-appointed sports medicine expert, who was encouraged by the progress made. "It's much better now," admitted Tendulkar. "The pain has gone down considerably and am very hopeful of playing in the next Test."

Tendulkar has been following a rehabilitation programme to help him return to fitness after two months on the sidelines. Since making his debut in 1989, Tendulkar has missed just five Tests, and this is the longest he has been out of action since pulling out of the three-Test tour to Sri Lanka in 2001.