Warne targets Boxing Day Test for return

Shane Warne has confirmed he will miss the first three Tests against the West Indies after he fractured his finger while playing for Victoria this week.

The Australian leg-spinner has targeted the Boxing Day Test for his return to give his spinning finger, broken while attempting to take a catch in the Pura Cup tie against New South Wales, time to heal.

A disappointed Warne, who will lose his place to wrist-spinner Stuart MacGill while he recovers from an operation to the top knuckle on his right hand, said he was determined to stay positive.

"Generally, my whole career I have been positive and upbeat about everything and I generally come back better than ever," he said.

"But the most disappointing thing is I'm finally back to some really good form and some really good bowling.

"My variety is good, my shoulder is feeling like brand new, my body feels good and I'm pretty fit - just when everything seems to be going right, this happens.

"However, I've just got to keep positive and hopefully I'll be right in six to eight weeks.''

Victorian team doctor Trefor James said the break was a simple one but complicated by the fact it was the spinning finger.

"One of the fracture fragments has got a tendon that attaches to it and that's part of the problem, because if Shane attempts to move it then that will stop the fracture from healing,'' he said.

"The worst-case scenario is if the fixation isn't very secure, then it might need to be protected for longer and if Shane develops a lot of stiffness it will take him longer to recover."

Warne's career has been filled with injury setbacks. Last month, he returned from his season with Hampshire with a knee injury which ruled him out of the ICC tournament in Kenya and in the past five years has had major surgery on his shoulder and finger.