Victorian leg spinner Bryce McGain has not given up hope of playing for Australia despite admitting the timing of his recent injury breakdown in India could not have been worse.
The 36-year-old was on the verge of becoming Australia's oldest Test debutant since fellow leg spinner Bob Holland in the mid 1980's but was sent home from the tour of India without bowling a ball after breaking down with what he described on Tuesday as "a strained armpit."
It was a cruel blow for the man who was the number one spinner in domestic cricket last summer as he seemed on the verge of making his Test debut in Thursday's first Test against India in Bangalore.
But while McGain, who took 38 wickets at 34.14 in the Sheffield Shield last season, admits it was devastating to break down when so close to fulfilling his dream of winning his first baggy green cap he does not believe it was his last chance to play for Australia.
"It is disappointing to be back when I was so close to playing for Australia," McGain said at Victorian training at the MCG on Monday afternoon.
"Unfortunately it just wasn't my time (to play for Australia)."
But while he could be sidelined for another four to eight weeks with the injury - which first flared during the Australia A tour of India in September - McGain has not given up hope of winning a Test call-up even though his injury means he is unlikely to get another opportunity until the three Test series against South Africa beginning in late December.
"Absolutely," he said, when asked if he believed he could still play for Australia.
"It's bad, bad timing I acknowledge that but I hope to rest up, do the rehab and be ready to reload and play for Victorian and win games and play well."
"I am confident I will be back bowling well after my rehab and I am looking forward to that."
McGain has not put a date on his return admitting he may not have given himself enough time to get over the initial problem in September in his rush to be ready for Australia's current tour of India.
"I guess I have strained my arm pit which is pretty unique to what I bowl - leg spin - the way I move my arm in terms of spinning the ball at the top of my release."
"I did it initially in the A tour in early September and went home early from that tour and I think that (trying to return to fitness in time for the current tour) contributed to me getting injured (again) because there was timeframes set around games and in doing that I probably didn't take the right amount of time off."
"But I will get it right this time and wait until I am 100 percent before I start bowling again and if that takes six or seven weeks instead of four or five then I am prepared to wait longer to make sure I am right so it doesn't niggle away at me for the rest of the summer."