Tendulkar fit to face Australia

Sachin Tendulkar suffered an elbow injury in the third Test against Sri Lanka

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Sachin Tendulkar will be available to play against Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has again insisted.

Tendulkar injured his elbow while fielding in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo and was forced out of the one-day series which followed.

The world’s leading one-day batsman also pulled out of the Irani Trophy, a traditional four-day season opener between the Ranji Trophy champions and a Rest of India team, which is to begin on September 24.

The match was to feature all the probable players for the four-Test series against Australia, but BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah insisted Sachin's prolonged rest was merely a precaution.

"Sachin was dropped from the Irani Cup team on the advice of the physiotherapist," Shah said.

"He has been advised (to take) a week of rehabilitation.

"He will, however, be available for selection for the Australia series."

The first Test against Australia will begin on October 9 in Bangalore.

Sachin's place in the Rest of India team will be taken by Subramaniam Badrinath.