Sachin can use his normal bat: Dr Joshi

The batting maestro, who has been declared fit to play the third Test, could play with his normal heavy bat, BCCI doctor Anant Joshi said on Saturday.

Batting genius Sachin Tendulkar, who has been declared fit to play the third cricket Test against Australia at Nagpur, could play with his normal heavy bat, Cricket Board doctor Anant Joshi said on Saturday.

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"I don't think the weight of the bat really matters in this case. Sachin can use his normal bat," Joshi, the head of BCCI medical panel said.

Dr Joshi, who was in Kolkata in connection with an operation, said the problem of tennis elbow has nothing to do with the weight a person carries as even housewives can get it without lifting heavy things.

He said he had examined Tendulkar's affected elbow two days ago and was fully satisfied with his recovery.

"Two days ago his condition was very good following which we decided that the load on his hand could be progressively increased and a final decision about his availability for the third Test be taken by team physio Andrew Leipus this morning," Dr Joshi said.

"We played very safe as even before Chennai Test he was in a position to play but we did not allow him to take the risk and waited for some more time for complete recovery. Now we are sure that the problem is over," he said.

When asked why it took so long for the injury to heal, he said the problem of tennis elbow was such.

"In some people it gets better in a week to ten days, in some cases it take months and in some cases it never gets better," Joshi said.

Tendulkar has been out of action since August when the problem surfaced.