Pollock out of first Test
against Aussies

South Africa captain Shaun Pollock has ruled himself out of the first Test against Australia, which starts on Friday, after failing to shake off an injury.

All-rounder Pollock said on Thursday that he had not recovered from a side strain he aggravated in a domestic game at the weekend.

He will be replaced by fast bowler Andre Nel while wicketkeeper Mark Boucher will take over the captaincy for the match at the Wanderers.

Middle order batsman Justin Ontong has also withdrawn after sustaining a hamstring injury playing touch-rugby during Wednesday's practice session.

Left-handed batsman Ashwell Prince, who has played only one first-class match this season, will replace Ontong. Prince played for South Africa A against Australia in Potchefstroom earlier this week and topscored with 92 runs.

"I won't be playing," Pollock told reporters. "It's very disappointing. In fact, it's one of the more disappointing moments in my varied career.

"But I always knew I was up against it. You don't recover quickly from a side strain injury. It's one of the worst injuries for a bowler to have.

"Obviously I would like to be out there playing for my country. But as a team we've got to put it behind us, and I'm confident Mark will be a great captain."

Craig Smith, the team physiotherapist, said he was hopeful Pollock would be fit for the second test in Cape Town in two weeks.

Smith said Ontong's hamstring strain would require three or four weeks to recover.

WORLD LEADERS

Australia head the International Cricket Council world Test championship and need to win the series to stay on top.

South Africa, who were whitewashed 3-0 in Australia in December and January, will replace them if they draw or win the series.

Speaking before Pollock's withdrawal, Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said the absence of the South African captain would be a major setback for the home side.

"It would be a big blow if Pollock didn't play in that they (his team) respect him so much," Gilchrist told reporters.

"He's done a fantastic job in keeping them together and getting them a great deal of success since he's taken over.

Boucher said he was not worried about taking over the captaincy.

"It's a big moment for me. I don't have much captaincy experience, but I've got a lot of senior players around me," he said.

LEAN WARNE

Australia, who have no major injury worries, are looking for commanding performances from leg spinner Shane Warne and opening pair Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

"He's (Warne) really looking fit, he's dropped a fair bit of weight and he's really keyed up to perform well," Gilchrist said.

Warne has played 15 of his 98 Tests against South Africa, and has taken 81 of his 430 wickets against them.

Asked why Warne performed so well against South Africa, Gilchrist said: "Obviously there's a lot of mystique around from when they (South Africa) copped him in his prime in that 1993/94 series when he was just out of this world as a bowler.

"'Warnie's' still a world-class bowler and he just seems to command the respect."

Australia's success in the home series against South Africa was founded on Hayden and Langer, who mounted opening stands of 80, 202 and 219 in the first innings of the three Tests.

Hayden scored three centuries in the series and finished with 429 runs at an average of 107.25. Langer scored 365 runs at 73, with two centuries and a half century.

South African fast bowler Allan Donald said the key to their success lay in disrupting the Australian top order.

"If we can get into them early on and target the middle order I think we are in with a really good chance," Donald said.

"We know Australia want to score at three an over and we are going to have to knock that and break that opening partnership as quickly as we can."

Mail Cricket Editor