Tendulkar to go for precautionary MRI scan

Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar is likely to go for a precautionary MRI scan today after he was hit on his head by a sharply lifting delivery from Brett Lee while batting in the tri-series match against Australia here.

Tendulkar seemed to have misread the pace and lift of the final delivery of Lee's second over, which hit the grill of his helmet and bounced off to mid-on where Xavier Doherty took the "catch". Every Australian fielder went up in appeal, thinking they had their man, but umpire Steve Davis was convinced it hadn't touched Tendulkar's bat before striking his helmet at the Gabba yesterday. Apparently, some sort of blow from that delivery had also deflected on to Tendulkar's forehead, above his right eye.

The batsman continued with his innings, which ended off the very next delivery he faced, in Ben Hilfenhaus' next over from the other end. After his dismissal, Tendulkar was given ice treatment on the swelling in the dressing room, and even though he's shown no discomfort, a precautionary MRI scan has been advised for him.

It capped a miserable day for the champion Indian batsman who was hit on his shin off an edged stroke from Peter Forrest in the slips in the 25th over of Australian innings and while batting, he made an unconvincing three off 12 balls as the visitors lost the match by a whopping 110 runs at the Gabba.