Bad break for Smith

Captain expects to recover in time for return series with Australia

Last updated: 4th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bad break for Smith

Smith: In pain

If we need 10 to win I'm pretty sure Graeme will go in there, but it all depends on the situation.

Paul Harris
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South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken little finger.

The 27-year-old batsman was forced to retire hurt on 30 on day two of the third Test against Australia, after being struck by a sharp rising delivery from Mitchell Johnson.

X-rays later confirmed the break in the fifth metacarpal and he returned to the tourists' dressing room with a plastic cast on his hand.

Smith had already planned to miss the upcoming one-day series with the world champions to undergo elbow surgery.

And he remains confident of making the return Test series against Australia at the end of February, with Mark Boucher set to lead the line in the skipper's absence.

Necessity

Spinner Paul Harris has revealed the captain could still play a part at The SCG though if circumstances dictate.

"If we need 10 to win I'm pretty sure Graeme will go in there, but it all depends on the situation," Harris said. "He's disappointed to be injured, but this is the kick he needed to take a little bit of rest.

"The big guy has been playing for a long time in a lot of pain. I don't think people realise how hard it is to play in the pain he is in. A lot of other guys would have packed in a long time ago."

South Africa closed on 125-1 at stumps in reply to Australia's first innings total of 445 with their hopes of dislodging their opponents from the top of the Test rankings ever waning.

The tourists need to complete a 3-0 whitewash to take over in top spot.