Bryce McGain's first trip with the Australia Test squad has ended prematurely © AFP Enlarge

Bryce McGain's tour of India is officially over after Cricket Australia announced he would be flying home due to his lingering shoulder injury. McGain, the legspinner who was rated a strong chance of making his Test debut on the trip, has been unable to bowl properly since straining his right shoulder while playing for Australia A last month.

Australia have not yet decided whether to send a replacement player for the four-Test series, which begins in Bangalore next Thursday. Beau Casson, the left-arm wrist-spinner, would be the most likely candidate for a call-up after playing a Test in the Caribbean this year, while the offspinner Jason Krejza is for now the only specialist slow bowler in the squad.

Australia's physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said McGain would have been unable to bowl through most of the tour had he stayed with the squad. "Bryce's injury was first sustained in an Australia A match in September," Kountouris said.

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

McGain, 36, was considered the first-choice spinner in the squad after beating Casson for the sole wrist-spinner's position. Had he played in India, McGain would have been Australia's oldest Test debutant since his fellow legspinner Bob Holland in 1984-85.