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Tendulkar fit to face Aussies

20/12/2007

Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar has been passed fit to face Australia in the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Tendulkar missed the last Test match against Pakistan in Bangalore earlier this month with a knee injury. Wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who also missed the Bangalore Test, is also fit to face Australia.

The pair played in India's warm-up game against Victoria today. Tendulkar only made 19 and Dhoni didn't bat. India ended the day on 110/3, with Sourav Ganguly unbeaten on 51 and Rahul Dravid on 33.

Meanwhile, Australian legend Shane Warne has backed his old adversary Tendulkar to succeed on the tour, despite some critics saying the 34-year-old batsman was losing some of his ability.

"I don't believe just because he is getting old, he is finished. Given the conditions, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide are going to be pretty flat, I expect Sachin to get lot of runs," Warne said.

"There is no doubt he will play one or two special innings in this Test series. Absolutely no doubt, he will play a couple of unbelievable, breathtaking innings.

"He is the best batsman I have played either with or against. You never write off a great player."

India arrived in Australia with high hopes of upsetting the home side after they recently beat arch-rivals Pakistan and claimed a famous series win in England.