NEW DELHI: Indian seamer Praveen Kumar has been ruled out of next month's Test series in Australia after fracturing a rib, the Indian cricket board announced on Tuesday.

“Praveen Kumar underwent a scan last evening and was found to have a fractured rib as per the report that came through today,” the board said in a statement.

“He is expected to recover in five-six weeks and has therefore been ruled out of the (ongoing) one-day series against the West Indies as well as the Test series in Australia that follows.”

Kumar's replacement for the Australia tour will be named on December 5, the statement added.

The 25-year-old has bagged 27 wickets in six Tests and 69 wickets in 61 one-day internationals.

India open the three-month tour on December 15 with two practice matches in Canberra ahead of the first Test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.

The remaining Tests will be played in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

This will be followed by two Twenty20 internationals, before Sri Lanka join in for a one-day tri-series from February 5.