Round-Up: Shoulder surgery puts Tendulkar out of Test series
Sachin Tendulkar will miss next month's Test series in the West Indies as he has not fully recovered from shoulder surgery.
The 33-year-old batsman, India's most capped Test player, was due to undergo a fitness test yesterday to determine his availability for the four-Test series beginning on 2 June. But he did not bat at the net session, which was watched by the chairman of selectors, Kiran More, India's former physiotherapist Andrew Leipus, and board officials.
The board secretary, Niranjan Shah, said: "As far as the board is concerned, Sachin is not going to the West Indies as we feel he is not 100 per cent fit. Sachin will go to London to consult with Andrew Wallace. He will continue with his rehabilitation." Wallace is the surgeon who performed Tendulkar's shoulder operation and Shah added: "We will review Sachin's condition after two or three weeks. If the team management in the West Indies wants his services, and if he has recovered fully then, we'll send him."
Tendulkar has not played since the final Test defeat against England in mid-March, after which he had the surgery. His absence will be a setback for an India team aiming for their first major Test series win outside the subcontinent in 20 years. The premier batsman, who resumed mild net sessions on 10 May, also spent five days testing his injured shoulder at the MRF Pace Foundation in the southern city of Chennai.
"I am still not ready to compete in international cricket," Tendulkar said, adding that his right arm still felt weak. "I don't know when I will be ready."
The Test opener Wasim Jaffer, who underwent a shin operation in April, passed his fitness test and is available for selection.
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