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Tendulkar's injury no major disability

Australian Institute of Sports doctor Peter Barnes said the world's leading batsman, who he examined in Adelaide last week, was suffering from spondylolysis, a bone defect at the base of the spine.

The problem surfaced this year in a Test against Pakistan just before the World Cup and recurred last month in Sri Lanka. It forced the 26-year-old right-hander, who holds the World record of 23 centuries in one-day internationals, to miss India's one-day series against the West Indies in Canada earlier this month. He will also miss the forthcoming four-nation tournament in Kenya.

Barnes was quoted as saying last week that the complaint could shorten Tendulkar's career. But today he said that, although the player had suffered from the condition for years and would have it for the rest of his life, he did not expect it to be a ''major disability''.

He said the batsman would have to strengthen his lower back, adding: ''It's a very common condition in a lot of sporting people and most of them manage to work around it and keep going.

''He will undoubtedly at various stages of his future career get a bit sore in his lower back but by doing his rehabilitation programme on a regular basis he should be able to make these infrequent and not prolonged episodes.''

Asked if Tendulkar could be restricted as a fielder, he said: ''If all goes according to plan, no. That's the expectation.'' But he added he might have to switch from the outfield to the slips on occasions.

Barnes said Tendulkar, who left Adelaide last Thursday, would need four to six weeks for the benefits of the programme to show.

Meanwhile, Tendulkar today told newsmen in Bombay he'll be having nets in two weeks time. Tendulkar said his lower back injury was identified as spondyloysis of the lower verbetrae. "While playing it used to cause microtrauma - a medical term for weakening of the muscles surrounding the lower verbetrae. It will require manipulative physiotherapy," he added.

He said he was tremendously relieved to know that it was a common injury which can affect any person but he admitted that in his case the reason could have been the overuse of the body.

"Now I will have to be very careful in picking and chosing matches, though to what extent in the view of international cricket all round the year it will be dificult to say," he said, but stressed that whatever he does he will not give up cricket.

Tendulkar dismissed reports that the injury threatened to cut short his career. He said he was present at the press conference which the doctor treating him addressed and no such statement was made. "I have to take certain caution otherwise the problem could be lifelong," he concluded.

Agencies