Proteas call-up Keegan Petersen as replacement ahead of second Test in Cape Town starting Friday, live on Sky Sports
Sunday 29 December 2019 11:56, UK
South Africa opener Aiden Markram has been ruled out for the remainder of the Test series against England with a finger injury.
Markram fractured the fourth finger of his left hand during the Boxing Day Test at Centurion and will be absent for at least six weeks following surgery.
Cricket South Africa's chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra said: "After consulting with a number of hand specialists, we arrived at a decision that the best outcome would be achieved through surgical reduction and fixation.
"This would mean him unfortunately missing the rest of the series against England. We feel for Aiden who worked extremely hard to come through his previous hand fracture sustained in India to be Test match ready."
Markram has only just returned to fitness after fracturing his right wrist punching a "solid object" during the recent Test tour of India.
The right-hander made scores of 20 and two against England at Centurion.
He has been replaced in the South Africa squad by batsman Keegan Petersen ahead of the second Test in Cape Town which starts on Friday, live on Sky Sports.
The uncapped 26-year-old scored 111 for South Africa A against England last week in a warm-up match. He has played 88 first-class matches with an average of 40.66.
