Tendulkar set to miss out on ton of tons at Lord’s

London, (AFP): India great Sachin Tendulkar is unlikely to score his 100th international hundred in the first Test against England at Lord’s after spending Sunday’s first two sessions off the field with a virus.

The length of his absence means Tendulkar, out for 34 in India’s first innings on Saturday, won’t be able to bat any higher than No 7, the fall of the fifth wicket, during the tourists’ second innings in a match where England are currently in their second innings and Monday is the fifth and final day.

And that could scupper Tendulkar’s hopes both of scoring his 100th international hundred in this match - his 51 in Tests and 48 in one-dayers are both records - and his first Test century at Lord’s where his top score in eight knocks to date is a modest 37.

Under the playing conditions for this series, Law 2.1.2, which deals with substituted players, states: “The player shall not be permitted to bat unless or until, in the aggregate, he has returned to the field and/or his side’s innings has been in progress for at least that length of playing time for which he has been absent or, if earlier, when his side have lost five wickets.”

An India team statement issued before Sunday’s fourth day’s play started, said: “Mr Sachin Tendulkar has a viral infection and is resting under medical advice and would take the field later in the day after further medical assessment.”

Tendulkar, 38, played some trademark classic shots before he was caught at second slip by Graeme Swann off Stuart Broad on Saturday. Given his age, the second innings of this match could represent Tendulkar’s last chance to score a Test hundred at Lord’s - a feat that has so far also proved beyond fellow contemporary batting greats Ricky Ponting of Australia and retired West Indies star Brian Lara.