South Australia's hopes of ING Cup and Pura Cup success in 2001-02 have suffered a massive blow today with the news that leading fast bowler Paul Wilson is injured and will be missing from its side for at least six weeks.

After withdrawing late last week from the Redback squad that will travel to Perth for the state's season-opening ING Cup match on Friday, Wilson underwent a MRI scan on his right knee in Adelaide today.

The scan detected significant roughening of the cartilage behind his kneecap, meaning that arthroscopic surgery will be required in order to correct the problem.

At this stage, the strongly-built right arm paceman is not expected to return to cricket before late November. Depending on the success of surgery on Wednesday, it is possible that he may even be sidelined for up to three months.

Wilson, 29, has been an integral member of South Australia's team since the time of his domestic debut in the 1993-94 season. He has consistently been among its leading wicket-takers in each of his seven first-class seasons with the side, and is also only nine wickets away from striking the most times of any bowler in the history of domestic one-day competition in Australia.

An ankle injury also forced him out of action late in the 2000-01 season, causing him to miss the Redbacks' closing three first-class matches of the summer.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd