Smith out, Kallis to captain

Graeme Smith has been ruled out of the third Test against Australia, and Jacques Kallis will replace him as captain.

Smith injured his hand while practising slip catching, the ball striking him on the top of his right ring finger, the same one he injured against India in November. Smith had an x-ray on his hand, and media manager Gerald De Kock said of it: “The x-ray is unclear, but there does seem to be a bone chip floating around in the finger.”

In Smith’s absence, Boeta Dippenaar will come into the side, and Jacques Kallis will lead. South African coach believes may Kallis may struggle with the captaincy, saying: “Jacques gets in a bubble during Tests and sits on his own, so it will be a challenge for him.”

In the match at the Wanderers, South Africa will be looking to avoid a whitewash and take something from the series. It will also be Justin Langer’s 100th Test for Australia, in a career spanning 13 years and over 7,000 Test runs.