Rahul Dravid's shoulder injury, diagnosed as a `fiat lesion' (a ruptured cartilage), is more serious than anticipated, but is not likely to keep him from playing the Test series against South Africa, starting Saturday at Bloemfontein. Even so, Dravid will eventually require surgery as a permanent solution to the injury that has been troubling him occasionally for almost four years now. Dravid consulted Cape Town doctor, Joe de Beer, who has set right many shoulders in the South African rugby team, as well as that of Nicky Boje. De Beer felt that "technically speaking, Dravid can play the coming Test series. But it could affect his shoulder adversely. 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.

"Dravid told me that 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."

It is bad news for India who had already been denied any first-class practice before the Tests after their three-day match against South Africa President's XI at Chatsworth was called off due to rain and an ineffective drainage system.

Should Dravid pull out of the first Test, Virender Sehwag will be his most likely replacement at No. 6.

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