13 June 2004	Sunday	24 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

MELBOURNE, June 12: Australia's leading wicket-taker Shane Warne has a broken hand and is in doubt for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said on Saturday.

Warne was batting for English side Hampshire against Essex when he was struck on the left hand by a delivery from former England paceman Darren Gough.

"Shane phoned me overnight to inform me of the injury," Hohns said on Saturday.

"At this stage it's too early to determine whether he will or won't be available for the Top End tour (with Tests in Darwin from July 1-5 and in Cairns July 9-13).

"Cricket Australia medical staff need to talk to Shane and the medicos at Hampshire to determine a course of action and the selectors will be guided by that advice."

Warne is expected to be out of action for at least three weeks.

New South Wales leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who was left out of Australia's 13-man squad named earlier this week, is a contender to replace Warne if the 34-year-old is ruled out.

Right-arm leg spinner Warne has taken 517 Test wickets and is 10 wickets behind the world mark held by his Sri Lanka rival Muttiah Muralitharan. -Reuters