Clearly the treatment to Justin Langer's strained hamstring seems to have worked © Getty Images Enlarge

Justin Langer is on course to play in next week's third cricket Test against South Africa in Sydney, Cricket Australia said.

Langer was forced out of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne with a hamstring injury, but returned to batting practice on Wednesday after physio treatment.

It was the first time Langer had batted since he strained his left hamstring in the first Perth Test 10 days ago. He has been in Melbourne since Christmas, undergoing treatment with Errol Alcott, the Australian team physiotherapist, to be fit for the last domestic Test of the southern summer.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said, "He's been progressing well and has been doing a bit of running and a lot of strength work and he'll continue to work over the next couple of day. A decision on his availability for Sydney will be made at the end of the week."

If Langer plays in Sydney it will give him the chance to play his 100th Test during the tour of South Africa next March. Phil Jaques, who replaced Langer in the second Melbourne Test against the Proteas, made two and 28 in his Test debut.