PERTH, Oct 5: An ankle injury has forced Australian spearhead Glenn McGrath to withdraw from this month’s two cricket Tests against Zimbabwe and a limited-overs tour of India starting late October.

Officials said on Sunday McGrath, 33, was also in doubt for the first Test in a series against India starting in Brisbane Dec 4.

McGrath had surgery on his left ankle in August and had been recovering well, but pulled up sore after bowling in the nets here Saturday.

He felt pain and discomfort in the ankle — the one which supports his weight in his delivery stride — and on Sunday the pain was still there.

A team spokesman said McGrath left Perth to fly home to Sydney where he will have further ankle surgery this week.

He faced up to two months on the sidelines, the spokesman said.—AFP