Dravid's shoulder injury is serious

The Indian cricket team was in for a shock ahead of the first Test against South Africa, starting on Saturday, with vice-captain Rahul Dravid being diagnosed as having a rupture in his shoulder cartilage.

What the team management insisted was just a 'precautionary scan' when Dravid left for a medical check-up in Cape Town on Sunday, turned out to be a serious injury that the stylish batsman had been carrying for the last four years.

Dr Joe de Beer, who Dravid consulted in Cape Town, said Dravid could play in the Test series but it could aggravate the problem.

"Technically speaking, Dravid can play the coming Test series. But it could affect his shoulder adversely," he said.

"He must field near the wicket all the time. He certainly can't field and throw from the outfield. If he does, he will only aggravate his injury."

In medical terms, Dravid, who rejoined the team on Tuesday morning, is suffering from 'fiat lesion' or a rupture in the shoulder cartilage muscle.

"It is the same problem (South African left-arm spinner) Nicky Boje was afflicted with," de Beer said.

The doctor, a shoulder specialist who has earned tremendous reputation after successfully handling similar injuries of top South African rugby players, said Dravid, who has not missed a single Test or a One-Day International, had earlier tried to get his problem examined but it was not diagnosed properly.

"Dravid has been carrying this injury for four years. He went to see a surgeon in England last year but the injury could not be properly diagonised," he said.

While the team management down played the injury, saying the doctor's report is expected only on Wednesday morning, de Beer said the injury is serious and may require surgery.

"Dravid told me he would have to do something on the short or medium-term basis and, possibly, will go under the surgeon's knife," de Beer said.

"But his team has a busy international schedule and he would have to get the timing right."

De Beer did not rule out the possibility of Dravid staying back after the Test series and undergoing treatment.

"The only thing I would say in his favour is that he would recover faster than Boje did -- but then, like Boje, he doesn't have to bowl."

Boje suffered from a long-standing injury of tendon in his left shoulder and stopped playing when the pain got unbearable. He opted out of the tour of the West Indies midway, earlier this year, went through the operation and returned to active cricket only this month.

De Beer said such injuries take at least four months to heal after being operated upon.

Dravid had been complaining of pain in his shoulder for some time. He decided to opt out of the three-day match against South Africa 'A' - which in all likelihood will be abandoned as no play was possible on the first two days due to wet outfield conditions.

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor