30 September 2004	Thursday	14 Shaban 1425

MUMBAI, Sept 29: India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday hinted he may be fit for next week's first Test against Australia, saying the tennis elbow injury was showing "tremendous improvement."

But the 31-year-old, one of the game's most prolific batsmen with 33 Test and a record 37 one-day centuries, said he needed doctors' clearance before making himself available for the Bangalore Test from next Wednesday.

"I am not ruling myself out," Tendulkar told reporters after giving his Mumbai team mates a pep talk ahead of their three-day game against the tourists at the Brabourne Stadium from Thursday.

"I am waiting for doctors to give me the green signal. I will know in a few days if I can play in Bangalore. "I have not practised for six weeks because I was in a lot of pain. I need to have more strength in my left hand.

"All I can say at present is that doctors feel there has been a tremendous improvement in my condition." Tendulkar, who missed three consecutive limited-overs tournaments in the last month due to the injury, said two weeks ago he was unable to pick up a bat due to the pain.

Tendulkar has not played a first-class game since the third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in April, but his return to the national team will be fast-tracked the moment he is declared fit.

Indian captain Saurav Ganguly has said Tendulkar will be played in Bangalore even if he makes himself available on the morning of the match. "When a player like Tendulkar is missing, it makes a big difference," Ganguly was quoted as saying. "I want him back fast."

Australian coach John Buchanan on Wednesday endorsed Ganguly's views on the importance of having Tendulkar in the side. Asked if Australia would have picked Tendulkar if he was available at short notice, Buchanan replied: "Most definitely."

"If he says he is ready to play, he would be the first pick in the team." Australia's champion leg-spinner Shane Warne said last week he expected Tendulkar to play in Bangalore.

"Even if he can't throw or hold a bat and ball, I am certain he will be there," Warne said. Tendulkar's absence, even for one Test, will be a blow to India who are aiming to win their third consecutive home series against Australia after 2-1 successes in 1998 and 2001.

In seven home Tests against Australia, Tendulkar has scored 760 runs at an average of 63. Overall he is the fifth highest scorer in Test cricket with 9,470 runs in 114 matches at 57.39.

Tendulkar, who made his Test debut in Pakistan during the 1989-90 tour, has missed only one Test series in his 15-year career when a leg injury forced him to sit out the Sri Lanka tour in 2001. -AFP