Kumble out of action for four months due to shoulder injury

The first foreign coach for the Indian cricket team, John Wright of New Zealand said in Mumbai on Tuesday "it's a pity that leg spinner Anil Kumble will not be available for the home series against Australians, starting in February."

After a meeting with BCCI officials, Wright told PTI that he had been informed about the operation to be done on Kumble's right shoulder. Kumble has been ruled out of action for four months.

"It would have been nice to have every one fit against the Australians and my first priority during the one-week camp to be held at Chennai from February 5-10 would be towards physical fitness," he said. He added he would also give importance to catching, fielding and running between the wickets and predicted a hard series ahead.

"We (Indians) have enormous talent and with a little more discipline the team can be moulded into a winning combination," he added.

Kumble, who is suffering from shoulder pain in his bowling arm, will be operated by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mark Fergusson in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The BCCI secretary, Jaywant Lele, told PTI in Mumbai on Tuesday that Kumble would be out of action for the next four months. "It will take four months for him to recover totally and that means he will miss the home series against Australia and the Sharjah tournament," he added.

Earlier, Dr Fergusson had successfully treated Indian players Javagal Srinath, Ajay Jadeja and Ajit Agarkar for shoulder related problems.

Kumble, India's most successful spinner with 276 wickets, may also miss the Zimbabwe tour starting in May. The Indians will be playing a two-Test series in Zimbabwe apart from a triangular series involving India, Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

Meanwhile, Wright would also visit the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore after watching the four-day Duleep Trophy match between West Zone and South Zone to be held at Surat from January 18 to 21.