Injured McGain to return home

Hyderabad:

Injured spinner Bryce McGain will return home but Cricket Australia is yet to decide on his replacement for the four-match Test series against India.

The team think-tank said in a statement on Friday that the leg-spinner would return home for not recovering sufficiently from a right shoulder injury sustained during an Australia A match in India last month.

Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said the decision to send McGain home was made after it was determined that the Victorian leg spinner would not be able to bowl for the majority of the tour.

"Bryce's injury was first sustained in an Australia A match in September and despite his workload being managed throughout the early stages of this tour, he suffered a setback at training on Tuesday in an attempt to be available for Australia's four-day match currently being played in Hyderabad," the physio said.

"As a result, it has been decided that Bryce will not be available for selection for the majority of the tour," Kountouris added.

CA National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said that a decision on a potential replacement player for McGain would be taken in due course.

"The National Selection Panel hasn't made a decision on whether a replacement player for Bryce will be called up for the remainder of the tour. The panel will make an assessment in the coming days and determine the appropriate course of action," he said.

In McGain's absence, rookie off-spinner Jason Krejza is expected to spearhead Australia's slow-bowling challenge but the youngster was less than impressive in the ongoing warm-up match against Board President's XI. Krejza bowled 20 overs without any success and conceded 123 runs.