LONDON // Sachin Tendulkar's chances of notching up his 100th international century at Lord's continue to diminish after the India batsman spent today's first two sessions of the fourth day of the first Test against England off the field with a virus.
The length of his absence means Tendulkar, out for 34 in India's first innings yesterday, will not 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 tomorrow 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-day internationals 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 today'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.
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 the retired West Indies star Brian Lara.
