Smith and
Kallis doubtful

ABU DHABI — South African captain Graeme Smith and all-rounder Jacques Kallis are doubtful for the second day-nighter of the Bank Al Falah presents Cool & Cool Cup at the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

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Published: Sun 31 Oct 2010, 11:50 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:55 AM

Opener and captain Smith was hit on his finger by a Shoaib Akhtar snorter and retired when on 18. He sustained the blow in the same region where he had a previous fracture. He was taken to hospital for an x-ray. The x-ray revealed that he didn’t suffer a fracture but with hardly any rest between the ODIs and the Tests coming up, the team management could possible hold him back so as to recover completely. With no back-up specialist opener in the squad, rookie Colin Ingram, who debuted in the home series against Zimbabwe and had done well on the ongoing tour, could be promoted to open if Smith is excluded.

Meanwhile, Kallis, who returned from an injury lay-off and top scored with 66, suffered dehydration and cramps and also retired hurt. Kallis was administered an intravenous drip.

The last time two batsmen retired hurt and did not bat again was in 1990, when New Zealand’s Ken Rutherford and Richard Hadlee returned to the pavilion during their game against England. It was only the fourth time that two batsmen have retired in the same match.

“Smith has sustained a blow, in the same area where he had the previous fracture. As precaution we had sent him to the hospital to do an X-ray, just to make sure there is nothing untoward. As far as Kallis is concerned, from the late afternoon, he suffered from a viral infection and developed nausea and dizziness. And obviously, when you have any infection, you sweat more and drink less. With the combination of those factors, he started dehydrating and that led to him struggling at the end,” Mohammed Moosajee, the South Africa team manager said.

james@khaleejtimes.com

Published: Sun 31 Oct 2010, 11:50 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:55 AM

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