Bracken braces up for NZ series

Australian left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken said on Friday he had successfully undergone shoulder surgery and was aiming to make his Test debut in the home series against New Zealand in November.

The 23-year-old, who has taken 10 wickets in nine one-day internationals for Australia, was sent home from the Ashes tour of Britain last month after suffering a shoulder injury in a tour match against Middlesex at Lord's.

"Despite preliminary scans that cleared him of any serious damage, (he) was forced to return to Australia after his shoulder didn't respond to strengthening and rehabilitation work," the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said in a statement released on Friday.

"The surgery, performed by shoulder specialist Des Bokor, revealed minor cartilage damage and tendon damage that was able to be treated (in Sydney on Thursday) through the arthroscope."

ACB doctor Trefor James said he expected Bracken to resume in the Australian domestic season later this year.

Bracken said the surgery appeared to have fixed the problem.

"Although I'd love to be playing in England with the Australian team, this is reality, and I now have to knuckle down and make sure I'm at full strength for the start of the season," Bracken said.

Queenslander Ashley Noffke, also uncapped, took Bracken's place in the touring party.

Australia, the world's top Test-match playing team, started their five-game Ashes series against England on Thursday at Edgbaston.

They will host New Zealand and South Africa, each for three Tests, from November through to January, ahead of a triangular one-day series.

Bracken, along with swing bowler Damien Fleming and the versatile Colin Miller, were back-up bowlers to the first-choice attack of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne.

Mail Cricket Editor