December 17, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 12, 1423

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MELBOURNE, Dec 16: Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne is expected to recover in time for next year’s cricket World Cup after surgeons operated on his dislocated shoulder on Monday.

The Australian Cricket Board’s medical officer, Dr Trefor James, told a news conference that Warne’s injury was not as bad as first feared although he was still expected to be out of action for about four to six weeks.

Warne will miss the final two Ashes Tests and the rest of the triangular one-day series with England and Sri Lanka, but the diagnosis means he is expected to be fit for Australia’s defence of the World Cup, starting in southern Africa on Feb 9.

Warne underwent exploratory surgery on Monday morning within hours of dislocating his bowling shoulder in a freak fielding accident against England the previous night.

The surgery, which allowed the shoulder joint to be flushed clean of blood, showed no sign of bone damage and no other problems other than ligament and cartilage damage consistent with a dislocation.

Warne said he was relieved by the news: “I’m happy with the scenario and I’ll do whatever it takes to get back on deck as soon as possible,” he said.

Warne’s career was almost cut short four years ago when he injured the same shoulder, requiring a complete reconstruction.

He missed the first four Ashes Tests but eventually returned to play the final match in January 1999 and later that year played a leading role in helping Australia win the World Cup for the second time.

Already the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history with 491 victims, Warne, 33, has been playing as well as ever this year after undergoing a strict training programme to make himself fitter and trimmer but the wear and tear on his shoulder remains a great concern.

Everything was going according to plan for Warne until Sunday night.

Australia had already clinched the Ashes against a hopelessly outclassed England and were cruising to another easy one-day win over their old enemy when Warne dived to stop a single off his own bowling and landed heavily on his right elbow.

Writhing in agony, it was immediately obvious Warne had seriously injured himself and he was carried from the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a stretcher before the shoulder joint was put back into place in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Adam Gilchrist has been ruled out of Australia’s next One-day International because of a groin strain.

The Australian vice-captain injured himself while batting in Sunday’s 89-run victory over England at the MCG and has been told to miss the next match against Sri Lanka in Perth on Dec 22.

Australia ‘A’ wicket-keeper Ryan Campbell is expected to replace Gilchrist for the match against Sri Lanka when the side is announced on Wednesday.—Reuters