McGrath out for two months with ankle injury

An ankle injury has forced Glenn McGrath to pull out of Australia's Test series against Zimbabwe and the triangular one-day tournament in India. According to an Associated Press report, he is also a doubtful starter for the four-Test series at home against India, which starts on December 4.

McGrath, who had a surgery on his left ankle in August, had been named in Australia's 13-man squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe after showing encouraging signs of recovery. However, he aggravated the injury while bowling in the nets at Perth on Saturday, and was forced to pull out of the squad. McGrath will now fly back to Sydney, and faces the unpleasant prospect of further surgery and two more months on the sidelines.

Errol Alcott, the team physiotherapist, was confident that McGrath would be back in action before the end of the Australian summer. Andy Bichel is expected to replace McGrath in the Australian line-up for the Perth Test.