From correspondents in Andhra Pradesh, India, 09:32 PM IST

Australian veteran spinner Bryce McGain would fly back home because of shoulder injury, Cricket Australia (CA) announced Friday.

The 36-year-old leg spinner has been unable to bowl properly since straining his right shoulder while playing for Australia A last month.

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 was quoted as saying in Cricinfo.

Australia have not yet decided whether to send a replacement for the four-Test series, which begins in Bangalore next Thursday.

Bryce's absence will give off-spinner Jason Krejza, who is now the only specialist slow bowler in the squad, a chance to make his Test debut.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)