Sachin's progress promising

Coming out to practice for another day, the master blaster says he is putting "a little more load" on his body each day.

Coming out to practice for yet another day, batting genius Sachin Tendulkar says he is putting "a little more load" on his body each day and his progress is said to be "promising".

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Tendulkar, who practised at the MIG Stadium on Friday morning, is racing against time to be fit for the third cricket Test against Australia beginning in Nagpur on October 26 after suffering an elbow injury in August.

"Till now the progress has been very good," he told reporters after a nearly two-hour practice session with a lighter bat.

"In fact, I have been putting a little more load on my body each day. Things have been going on pretty well so far. The body has been responding quite nicely. Now we just have to wait and see," he said.

However, whether Tendulkar will be able to take the field in Nagpur will depend on his passing a fitness test on Sunday.

Physio Andrew Leipus, who was at hand while Tendulkar was practising, said the batsman had made good progress.

"He has come through pretty well today. He is responding well to the treatment. He is doing everything we want him to do and I might be able to give you a final say tomorrow though the deadline for announcing his fitness is Sunday," he said.

"I will be monitoring his fitness tomorrow and assess the stiffness and soreness he might be experiencing," he added.