The 22-year-old, who is seen as the successor to veteran Allan Donald, has a stress fracture in his right leg.

Ngam made his Test debut against New Zealand last December and was clocked at more than 140 kph (87 mph).

He has so far taken 11 wickets in three appearances at a cost of only 17.18 each, and was named as one of the country's five Cricketers of the Year last month.

But he suffered a fractured thigh bone at the beginning of this year and missed the tour to the West Indies.

He has been building up his fitness in the hope ofr making his comeback against India, but now faces another period of recuperation.

"The pain started about 10 days ago and got worse to the point that he was sore bowling in the nets on Monday and couldn't continue.

"He had a bone scan this week which came out positive and he's going to be out for a four to six week period," said national team physio Craig Smith.

"It's obviously very disturbing. This is now his fifth stress fracture in the last five years, all but one in different areas of the body."