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Tendulkar gets cracking

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar today had his first net session since returning from Australia, where he had his ailing back treated.

''It feels good to have the first net session after my injury,'' said Tendulkar, who trained in earnest with his other Ranji Trophy team colleagues at the Wankhede stadium in Bombay.

"I am building myself up gradually. My back feels fine. The pain is reducing everyday,'' he said.

On Kapil Dev's appointment as coach of the Indian team, Tendulkar said: "Kapil is a great athlete. The players, especially the bowlers, will learn a lot from him." He went on to add, "It does not mean that Anshuman Gaekwad was not a good coach."

Tendulkar felt the New Zealand team, which arrived yesterday to play three Tests and five one-dayers against India, were good opponents. ''We cannot afford to take them lightly,'' he said.

UNI