Dravid will miss series following injury to shoulder

The India batsman Rahul Dravid has confirmed that he will miss the one-day series with England after requesting permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to travel to South Africa for treatment on the shoulder he injured on tour there. He has also ruled himself out of the Challenger domestic one-day series.

"I had wanted to fly to South Africa soon after the Bangalore Test, but was told that since it was Christmas the specialists would be on leave," Dravid said. "I will, however, be available for the two Tests and five one-day games against Zimbabwe beginning in February."

England have agreed to play a sixth one-day international in India this winter after the countries' boards reached a compromise over the make-up of future series between them.

After protracted negotiations between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the BCCI, England have agreed to the extra fixture. The original five-match series was set to begin in Calcutta on 22 January, but will now start at that same venue three days earlier and will be followed by a second match in Cuttack on the 22nd. The rest of the series is unchanged.

ENGLAND REVISED TOUR ITINERARY: One-day internationals: 19 Jan: 1st, Calcutta (d/n). 22 Jan: 2nd, Cuttack. 25 Jan: 3rd, Madras (d/n). 28 Jan: 4th, Kanpur. 31 Jan: 5th, Delhi. 3 Feb: 6th, Bombay (d/n).