Sachin likely to play 5th ODI

After missing the first four one-dayers against NZ due to an ankle injury, Tendulkar is all set to return to the side for Wednesday's match.

After missing the first four one-dayers against New Zealand due to an ankle injury, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is all set to return to the side for Wednesday's match at the Westpac Trust stadium here.

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Tendulkar on Monday said after the nets that his prospect of playing in the fifth one-dayer was very bright, a view backed by physio Andrew Leipus.

"He should be alright for this game," said Leipus as the batsman came to the nets and practiced hard.

Tendulkar, world's leading run scorer in the shorter version of the game with 11,544 runs and 33 centuries from 300 outings, is expected to boost the morale of the tourists whose poor run in the series continued after being drubbed in the first four one-dayers of the seven-match series.

At the nets, Tendulkar batted with all the earnestness of a batsman keen to make a mark, even asking Virender Sehwag to refrain from practicing in the nearby nets.

He was all keyed up and gave vent to his frustration whenever he failed to connect his flicks down the legside. He did appear a batsman short of match practice at the nets.

Indian coach John Wright hoped that the return of Tendulkar would augur well for the side which is low on confidence.

"The return of Tendulkar will clearly help. We can turn things around in the next few days."