Cricket Australia announced on Tuesday that leg-spinner Shane Warne will miss the fourth Test against India, beginning on Wednesday at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, due to a broken right thumb.
Warne sustained the injury while batting during Tuesday's final net session ahead of the Test. After experiencing increased pain throughout the day, a precautionary x-ray taken in the evening revealed the break.
A replacement for Warne in Australia's final eleven is yet to be confirmed.
Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said: "Shane experienced increased levels of pain throughout the afternoon, so we had the thumb x-rayed.
"The scans have detected a fracture in his right thumb, and given the amount of cricket on the horizon, we feel that it is in his best interests to get home now and rest.
"We can't predict a return date for Shane, but we will review him in the lead-up to the first Test in Brisbane [against New Zealand on November 18] ."
Warne said: "This series has been one of the true highlights of my career, so I'm really disappointed that I won't be able to finish it off on the right note.
"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 that I won't be there for it."
