Australia's leading fast bowler Glenn McGrath is targeting next month's opening cricket Test against India in Brisbane as his comeback match from ankle surgery.
Australia are shaping to field their first-choice bowling attack against the Indians with injured bowlers Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill also expected to be available.
The quartet is missing the current one-day triangular series in India which also involves New Zealand.
McGrath was originally expected to be back in action for the Melbourne Boxing Day Test but his manager Warren Craig said the bowler's recovery was progressing better than expected.
"The original thought when he had the surgery was that he wouldn't be back until the Boxing Day Test match but he's well ahead of schedule now," Craig said in Sydney on Tuesday.
"He's aiming to at least be for fit the first Test (at the Gabba starting December 4) and then it's up to the selectors as to which way they want to go with him."
Craig said McGrath, who underwent ankle surgery in early October, was looking forward to facing the Indians.
Lee is also recovering from an ankle operation, performed just 10 days ago, but he is walking around and confident of being fit for the opening Test of the summer.
