Nel to miss 3-4 weeks injured

Key South African player, Andre Nel has been forced out of the upcoming VB series through injury. The pace bowler will fly home due to a foot injury and will miss 3-4 weeks of action.

Nel was a key player for South Africa in the recently completed Test series, which South Africa lost 2-0. He took 14 wickets in the 3 Tests – a statistic that makes his current injury potentially distressing. He attributes the injury to the hard Australian pitches and “the constant pressure when you slam your foot into the ground when you bowl”.

Fellow strike bowler was forced home from the tour after the second Test match, when he suffered from a knee injury. Suggestions are that Ntini could return to Australia before the end of the tour, however.

Jacques Kallis and Justin Kemp have also missed matches due recent ailments, while Ashwell Prince was forced out of the recent Twenty20 International against Australia, after he suffered a hamstring injury during a training session on Monday morning.

Dale Steyn, 22, has been called up as a replacement. He has played two One Day Internationals to date, debuting for the Africa XI against the Asia XI in 2005. In 10.1 overs, Steyn has taken 2 wickets for 42 runs.