SYDNEY, Dec 4: Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill will be forced to miss at least the first two Tests against India as he recovers from hand surgery, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday.

The surgery is the latest blow to MacGill, 36, who is fighting to win a permanent presence on the team following the retirement of leg-spinner Shane Warne.

Team medical officer doctor Trefor James said MacGill would have hand surgery this week to treat numbness suffered during a recent match against Sri Lanka.

“MacGill will undergo surgery in Sydney on Thursday for carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand, a common problem that causes hand numbness,” James said.

James added that MacGill had had mild symptoms for several months, but the condition only began to affect his bowling during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart last month.

The surgery will keep MacGill out of cricket for four to six weeks.—AFP