Smith ruled out of test with fractured hand

[~IronMan~]

Tue, Nov 23 11:55 PM

Enlarge Photo South Africa's injured player Graeme Smith is seen ahead of the third one-day international cricket... South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been ruled out of the rest of the second and final test against Pakistan with a fractured hand.

Smith has "fractured the fourth metacarpal on his left hand" and will be out of action for at least two weeks, team manager Lerato Malekutu said on Tuesday, the fourth day of the match.

The injury may have been originally caused by a blow on the hand Smith suffered from a ball by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 29 which forced him to retire hurt.

The left-hander did not open the batting in South Africa's second innings, travelling to the local hospital for x-rays.

The fracture is the third Smith has suffered in the last two years.

The second test enters the final day on Wednesday with South Africa on 173 for four in the second innings, leading Pakistan by 323 runs.

The series is level at 0-0.

(Writing by Ken Borland in Johannesburg, Editing by Ed Osmond; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)





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