Warne, 28, underwent surgery on his injured right shoulder yesterday after suffering a torn rotator cuff during a match on the recent tour of India.He was told he could be missing from action for five months to a year, ruling out the Commonwealth Games and Pakistan tour before England arrives in November.

``It's disappointing news. It's worse than we had hoped,'' Warne told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Warne, the all-time leading spin bowling wicket-taker, said he was told that the injury could heal sufficiently to allow him to continue playing for several more years.

``The doctor told me that if the rehabilitation goes well the shoulder will eventually be better than brand new, so there's no reason I couldn't have another five years playing for Australia,'' Warne said.

Warne told a news conference in Melbournethat he would do everything possible to return in time for the Ashes series. ``Obviously you're always confident you can come back from major surgery and I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I'll be back in around six months or as close as I can,'' Warne said. ``By the same token, it does take up to 12 months and I'll be doing everything possible to make sure it's right.''