NEW DELHI: India’s batsman Sachin Tendulkar says India is planning its strategy for combating Australia in the forthcoming Test series.

The Press Trust of India quoted Tendulkar as saying: “The Indian team will play with a well laid-out strategy to win the four-Test series.” India began training for the Test series yesterday in Bangalore at the National Cricket Academy. Selectors are expected to pick the team tomorrow for the first Test match which begins Oct. 9 in Bangalore.

Tendulkar has been cleared to play in the Tests after recovering from the elbow injury that forced him to miss the recent one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Tendulkar said the Indian team management would be busy over the next few days planning “the way we want to approach the series.”

Vaughan could join performance squad

In London, Michael Vaughan could tour India later this year as part of the England performance squad, according to national selector Geoff Miller. As expected, Vaughan was missing from England’s 15-man squad, announced yesterday, to take on India in a two-Test series in December. Despite being awarded a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket board earlier this month, Vaughan is taking a three-month break from Test cricket after the Yorkshire batsman struggled to regain his form following his decision to step down as England captain. It has been suggested that Vaughan might join up with the England Performance team in India or play in South Africa or Australia to try to rediscover his form that saw him become one of England’s best batsmen. Miller has revealed the 34-year-old could be involved with England’s second-string as part of his rehabilitation. “It is a possibility that he could link up with the Performance Squad, we could use that,” he told Sky Sports News. There’s a lot of opportunities for him to play.

“It’s all about winning matches and sessions and we’ll look after Vaughan as much as we can. We could look at that or send him out somewhere in the world.

“We see him as an integral part of our plans. There’s lots of cricket coming up. He’s played for England for 10 years and deserves a bit of a break.” “Andrew Strauss came back and did well after a break and Vaughan will hopefully do that as well.

“Going abroad might put his mind right. We will organize where he goes so he can try and get back in the side. We know what he is capable of.” Miller added that Kevin Pietersen, Vaughan’s replacement as captain, was relishing the upcoming tour.

“He (Pietersen) is very competitive. He wants to win home and away,” Miller said.

“He’ll be looking forward to doing well in India. We have faith in him as much as we have in the rest of the side.”