Break ahead of Lord’s Test will give players enough time to shake off injuries, says Graeme Smith – Cricket News Update
South Africa’s Test captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 is hopeful the 10-day gap before the third Test, starting at Lord’s from August 16, will give his injured players ample time to shake off their respective niggles and return to full fitness ahead of the series finale.
“We are all improving. I jammed mine in the ground a bit. The physio has helped me a lot and the same with Alviro,” Smith told reporters at the post-match press conference, after the second Investec Test at Headingley ended in a draw, on Monday.
“There is lots of time in between the games so that will give enough time to recover and get ready for the next game,” he added further.
Opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Petersen-c1028 strained his hamstring during his 182-run knock in South Africa’s first innings at Leeds, and did not take the field during England’s both innings, he batted in tourists’ second innings, though. The Proteas doctor Mohammed Moosajee
had revealed on Sunday that Petersen’s injury would need a recovery time of six to seven days.
Skipper Smith injured his left knee when he jammed it into the ground while fielding at the backward-point boundary late on day three. Smith fielded as well as batted in the remainder of the match, with a strapping on his injured knee, but he also needs
a rest to recover completely from the niggle.
South Africa’s main injury concern, according to Moosajee, was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692, who was initially feared to miss the remainder of the second Test due to back spasms, which he had sustained while fielding in the slip on day three. Defying all odds, the veteran
all-rounder not only scored quick 27 runs on Monday, but went on to bowl four overs as well.
"Jacques’ back is flaring up all the time,” said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598. “He does recover quite quickly; the physio works miracles with him.”
“That's something, at his age, you have to keep on top of. Bowling 140k [Km/hr] at 37 years old, he is going to pick up a few things along the way,” he added further
The Proteas are currently leading the three-Test series 1-0, courtesy innings and 12-run win at the Kia Oval, and need to avoid a defeat at Lord’s to clinch the series and usurp http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 at the top of ICC’s Test rankings, but Smith is determined to prove
his side’s dominance with a convincing win at the home of cricket.
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