Injured Albie could come home
2008-08-21 17:25
Johannesburg - Albie Morkel has been ruled out of the Proteas' ODI squad for the opening match in the NatWest Series against England at Headingley on Friday.
Morkel has been struggling with a shoulder injury that he picked up while playing club cricket prior to the tour. "It has not responded as quickly to treatment as we had hoped," commented captain Graeme Smith. "And we will have to make a decision on his prospects for the remainder of the series at the weekend."
The second match is only due to be played at Trent Bridge next Tuesday.
This means that Vernon Philander will probably play his first ODI in the last 12 months. He was chosen for both the away tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh but was ruled out by injury on both occasions.
Normally the Proteas would start this series as strong favourites bearing in mind their record over the past 12 months that includes only three defeats (two away to Pakistan and one at home to New Zealand) as against 16 wins over Zimbabwe, Pakistan, New Zealand, the West Indies and Bangladesh.
England by comparison have struggled in the 50 overs format of the game.
"Bearing in mind that we have struggled to practise our one-day skills (a reference to the weather that again kept the Proteas indoors on Thursday) and the fact that we have not played ODI cricket since March, I believe the two sides will start fairly even," commented Smith.
"We need to make up in intensity anything our game may lack in terms of rusty skills.
"Obviously, winning the Test series was the primary objective of this tour and something that has made us very proud but I am confident that the boys will be ready for the ODIs. We want to finish the tour on a strong note," he added.
- SAPA