Oracle of Delphi
Arnold
Paladin
Shan Jayaweera
KC Hill
Cibbuano
Craig HillSouth Africa Captain Graeme Smith Fractures Thumb
January 5th 2009 11:40
South Africa skipper Graeme Smith will be available for Australia's visit to the republic despite fracturing his hand on the second day of the third Test against Australia at the SCG.
Smith was forced to retire hurt on 30 and go to hospital for x-rays after being struck by a rearing delivery from Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson late in the day.
He returned to the ground with his left hand and wrist in a plastic cast and will only bat again if the Proteas have a chance of winning or drawing the Test.
No decision has been made as to who will take over the captaincy for the remainder of the game.
In reply to Australia's 445, the visitors have moved to 1-125 in their first innings on a wearing pitch.
Smith will not require surgery to repair the hand but will need to go under the knife to correct a problem with his right elbow.
He will return home in the next few days and is expected to be fit for Australia's visit to South Africa next month.
"When Graeme gets home next week he will be consulting our team and medical experts in Pretoria on the way forward for both the finger and his elbow," South Africa's media manager Michael Owen-Smith reported .
"We anticipate he will be fully fit for the home series."
Off-spinner Paul Harris believes Smith's injury could be a blessing in disguise.
"He's obviously disappointed to be injured but I think this is the kick he probably needed to take a bit of a rest," Harris said.
"The big guy needs a rest. He's been playing for a long, long time and playing with a lot of pain."
"I don’t think people realise how hard it's been playing with the pain he's been playing with."
"A lot of other guys would have packed it in a long time ago and had the op and gotten better from there."
"He hasn’t – he's carried on – and respect to him for that."
As for South Africa's position in the third Test, Harris said: "They got a touch more than we would have liked them to have got but these things happen."
"We're pretty confident we can post close to their score if not a touch more."
"We are still looking to win this Test match but batting last is going to be tricky."
"First innings run will be crucial."
Smith was forced to retire hurt on 30 and go to hospital for x-rays after being struck by a rearing delivery from Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson late in the day.
He returned to the ground with his left hand and wrist in a plastic cast and will only bat again if the Proteas have a chance of winning or drawing the Test.
No decision has been made as to who will take over the captaincy for the remainder of the game.
South Africa Captain Graeme Smith Fractures Thumb
In reply to Australia's 445, the visitors have moved to 1-125 in their first innings on a wearing pitch.
Smith will not require surgery to repair the hand but will need to go under the knife to correct a problem with his right elbow.
He will return home in the next few days and is expected to be fit for Australia's visit to South Africa next month.
"When Graeme gets home next week he will be consulting our team and medical experts in Pretoria on the way forward for both the finger and his elbow," South Africa's media manager Michael Owen-Smith reported .
"We anticipate he will be fully fit for the home series."
Off-spinner Paul Harris believes Smith's injury could be a blessing in disguise.
"He's obviously disappointed to be injured but I think this is the kick he probably needed to take a bit of a rest," Harris said.
"The big guy needs a rest. He's been playing for a long, long time and playing with a lot of pain."
"I don’t think people realise how hard it's been playing with the pain he's been playing with."
"A lot of other guys would have packed it in a long time ago and had the op and gotten better from there."
"He hasn’t – he's carried on – and respect to him for that."
As for South Africa's position in the third Test, Harris said: "They got a touch more than we would have liked them to have got but these things happen."
"We're pretty confident we can post close to their score if not a touch more."
"We are still looking to win this Test match but batting last is going to be tricky."
"First innings run will be crucial."
| 43 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Content on this site is written and mediated by Craig Hill
Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available
Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available
