Injured Warne misses final Test

Warne faces several weeks out of the game

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne will miss the fourth Test against India due to a broken right thumb.

He sustained the injury whilst batting a net session ahead of the Test, and an x-ray confirmed a fracture.

"I'm really disappointed I won't be able to finish it off on the right note," said the Hampshire captain.

Warne was hoping to add to his world record haul of 541 Test wickets on a pitch likely to offer generous turn. Nathan Hauritz is set to deputise.

Warne added: "This series has been one of the true highlights of my career.

"It would have been a great thrill to be on hand when we received the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the end of this Test, but I'm satisfied with the knowledge that I helped contribute to our series win.

"I have every confidence that the boys can achieve our aim of winning the series 3-0. I'm just flat knowing I won't be there for it."

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Warne, 35, now faces a race against time to be fit for the home series with New Zealand starting on 18 November.

Australia physio Errol Alcott said: "We can't predict a return date for Shane, but we will review him in the lead-up to the first Test in Brisbane."

Warne's injury is identical to the one suffered by team-mate Ricky Ponting, which ruled the skipper out of the first three Tests of the series.

Australia clinched the series 2-0 after winning the first Test in Bangalore and the third in Nagpur to claim their first series victory in India in 35 years.

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