Glenn McGrath will miss Australia's two-Test series against Zimbabwe and the tour of India next month after failing to recover from ankle surgery, Cricket Australia said on Sunday.
McGrath told reporters in Perth on Sunday he had been happy with his progress from left ankle surgery in August but experienced soreness on Saturday.
"Having woken up with the same feeling this morning, we feel it would be pushing it [to play] and more appropriate to have it looked at again," McGrath said.
The fast bowler will head home to Sydney for further exploratory surgery next week.
"He'll certainly miss these two Tests and it's expected he won't be available for the India one-day series tour," a CA spokesman said.
Australia play Zimbabwe in Perth on October 9-13 and in Sydney on October 17-21 followed by a tour of India for a limited-overs series.
McGrath, Test cricket's sixth-leading bowler with 430 wickets from 95 matches, had surgery on his chronic left ankle complaint after carrying the injury for several years.
McGrath is also in some doubt for Australia's four-Test series at home against India in December and January.
"I'm very confident I'll be back during the Test series against India," McGrath added.
"With only five Tests to play until I reach 100, that's a pretty good incentive."
Australia have named a squad of 12 for the first Test against Zimbabwe with pacemen Andy Bichel and Brad Williams and leg-spinner Stuart MacGill vying for the two places in the attack alongside new-ball pair Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie.
