The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Ntini injured; Botha called in as cover

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 30, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Ntini injured; Botha called in as cover

MELBOURNE: South Africa paceman Makhaya Ntini injured his left leg and didn't bowl on Thursday in the second cricket Test against Australia, putting him in doubt for next week's Sydney match.

Ntini damaged his hamstring and tendons behind the left knee on Wednesday and failed a fitness test before play on day four, South African officials said.

``We preferred to withdraw him from bowling today to prevent him from aggravating the injury,'' said South Africa selector Haroon Lorgat. ``Ntini is our strike bowler and we will not take any risks with him.

``We will only play him once he has fully recovered from his injury.''

Rookie off-spinner Johan Botha has been flown in early as cover for the third Test.

Australia is playing two spin bowlers in Melbourne and is almost certain to retain both Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill at the spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground.

Botha, 23, could be rushed into the South Africa line-up to partner left-arm spinner Nicky Boje in Sydney.

He was originally selected only for the limited-overs section of the tour, which starts on January 13.

Uncapped Botha has played only four limited-overs internationals, making his debut last month in India.

``He will arrive in the next day or two. We'll look at our options for the next Test,'' Lorgat said.

South Africa batted through the last four sessions to salvage a draw in the first Test at Perth.

The tourists again faced a difficult fourth innings. — AP

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