Chances of Tendulkar making South Africa tour bright

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, SEPT. 4. Sachin Tendulkar's chances of making the South African tour has become brighter. There were indications of Tendulkar being available for selection from both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a sports medicine expert and orthopaedic surgeon who has been monitoring Tendulkar's foot injury since the latter's return from Zimbabwe in the first week of July.

``The chances are extremely good,'' said Dr. Anant Joshi adding, ``the doctor's role is over (with regard to the treatment). Now it's up to Tendulkar to expose himself to actual play and stress.''

The BCCI Hon. Secretary Mr. Jaywant Lele, said he was hopeful of being in a position to tell the national selectors on September 7 that they could pick Tendulkar for the full tour.

Mr. Lele has kept himself abreast of the improvement in the injured foot since Tendulkar's return from Johannesburg last Saturday. Tendulkar and Dr. Joshi had travelled to Johannesburg to meet Dr. Mark Ferguson, and to procure the customised inner sole that's been developed by an expert in the treatment of bones. Dr. Joshi said such injuries - in Tendulkar's case a hairline fracture in the joint of the two sesimoid bones of his right foot - take six weeks to heal and another three months for `solid consolidation'.

``After the healing time is over, the gumming process starts. The injured part is not as strong. But it doesn't prevent one from exposing it to stress. It's time to try out all actions. He has been running for two days and seems to be comfortable. I have told him to bat after a couple of days,'' said Dr. Joshi.

But Dr. Joshi explained that to do all the running and batting at nets, Tendulkar's foot had to be given protection. ``The device called orthotics, helps to ``lift off' the injured part of the foot. I have advised him to wear it for six months. There is still about one month's time for the tour to start in South Africa. I have told him not to rush to take decisions. But the time has come for him to expose his foot to stressful activities,'' said Dr. Joshi.

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Section  : Sport
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