Ankle injury rules Graeme http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 out of Champions Trophy – Cricket News Update
Veteran South African batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy tournament to be held in England next month, due to a recurring ankle injury. This was confirmed by Cricket South Africa on Thursday.
Smith, who was in England, captaining English county http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Surrey-c851, will return home this week to undergo a surgery on the troubled ankle. The surgery is expected to sideline the Proteas opener for four to six months.
South African team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee said that the left ankle of Graeme Smith has "deteriorated significantly" while playing for Surrey and a surgery is unavoidable.
"Graeme has been troubled by left ankle pain over the last few months and despite extensive treatment and physiotherapy, it has recently deteriorated significantly while playing for Surrey in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013," Moosajee told media reporters today.
"He underwent a rescan of his left ankle in London on Wednesday, and it was determined that since his last scan, the condition has progressed to a stress fracture. Surgery will be required, and he has been advised to follow a rest and rehabilitation programme over the next four to six months.”
"This unfortunately rules him out of the upcoming http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Champions Trophy in England and Wales and the Selectors will name a replacement in due course," confirmed the Proteas team manager.
Smith, who started a three-year stint at The Oval this season, had scans in London on the ankle on Wednesday and the Surrey county management also confirmed that he would return home to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 and Co on June 6, in just over four weeks' time.
Smith, a veteran of 110 Tests and 193 One day Internationals, expressed disappointment over the injury, saying that it was a big blow for him to be ruled out of the esteemed one day tournament.
"It's a big blow for me personally to be missing out on the Champions Trophy next month. The ODI squad is creating something special and I was looking forward to being part of that family. I will no doubt be supporting from my living room and I know the players, under AB's leadership will be giving all that they can during the tournament."
Tags: