18 September 2004	Saturday	02 Shaban 1425

LONDON, Sept 17: Indian seam bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji, who sustained a groin injury, which forced him to pull out from Indian cricket team in ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in England will in all likelihood miss forthcoming four-Test home series against Australia.

Team physio Andrew Leipus said he could effectively be out of national side for whole of this season. The bowler, who whipped up a mass hysteria with sterling performances first in tour Down Under and later in Pakistan, was beginning to find his feet in international circuit and was instrumental in India's series-clinching Test triumph in Rawalpindi.

The injury to Balaji couldn't have come at a more importunate time, as national side is already reeling under a series of injuries.

Left-arm spearhead Zaheer Khan is already out cooling his heels on rehab programme not to speak of master blaster Sachin Tendlukar, who is racing against time to be fit for first Test against Australia in Bangalore beginning Oct 6. -PPI