Harbhajan Singh set to miss third test

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh appears set to miss next week's third npower Test at Edgbaston against England, as India's injury troubles continue to mount.

Harbhajan was largely ineffective in the tourists' second-Test defeat at Nottingham, as was his opposite number Graeme Swann in a match dominated by seamers and batsmen.

But it transpired the world's leading active wicket-taker was bowling through the pain of what has since been diagnosed as a grade one lower abdominal tear, which will prevent him playing for 10 to 12 days.

India are still hoping that Zaheer Khan, who was able to run without apparent discomfort in training shortly after the end of the match in Nottingham, will be able to return from his hamstring injury to lead the attack again in Birmingham.

Destructive opening batsman Virender Sehwag too was finally due to arrive in this country today, after shoulder surgery, to try to somehow rescue a series India trail 2-0 with two to play and in which they will cede their Test number one status to England if they lose the next match.

Gautam Gambhir missed Trent Bridge, because the elbow injury he suffered in the first Test at Lord's had failed to recover.

The tourists hope he may be fit again soon. But there are worries over Yuvraj Singh, the man who replaced Gambhir only to be hit a painful blow on the finger while batting in the second innings.