Jacques Kallis played purely as a batsman recently and his rib injury is more serious than first thought © Gallo Images Enlarge
Related Links News : Herschelle Gibbs to replace injured Jacques Kallis Players/Officials: Jacques Kallis Matches: South Africa v England at Centurion Series/Tournaments: England tour of South Africa Teams: England | South Africa

Jacques Kallis has been ruled out of the one-day series against England with a fractured rib and is also doubtful for the opening Test at Centurion Park on December 16.

It is thought Kallis suffered the injury during last month's Champions League in India but the seriousness of the problem was only revealed in recent days when he underwent a scan after the pain hadn't disappeared.

"He just wasn't getting better from that injury," Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, said. "We had him re-scanned this morning and found there is a fracture in the cartilage of the rib - which clearly affects his performances for the next four weeks.

His absence is a blow to South Africa and means they will need to adjust the balance of their side to cover for the loss of a batsman and a bowler. Kallis was set to partner Graeme Smith at the top of the order in a reshaped batting line-up but now Hashim Amla will step into in the opening role.

For Kallis the aim is now to be fit for the Test series next month although Arthur admitted the opening encounter may be a "grey area". However, given Kallis' importance to the top order South Africa will play him purely as a batsman should the injury not recovery sufficiently.

"The priority for us is the Test matches, and we need to get him fit and ready for them," Arthur said. "The balance he brings to our Test side is huge, so he wasn't going to do a hell of a lot of bowling in the one-dayers anyway.

"We would play Jacques as a batter only in Tests if need be. He is among the top five batters in world cricket, so we could certainly do that, " he added. "We wouldn't push him to bowl in the first Test if we thought it would impede in matches two, three and four. The injury is affecting his batting at the moment - and what he needs now is four weeks off to get mended.

"If he batted then the movements of batting and running between the wickets and stretching would all affect his recovery - so that is why we're pulling him out of this series."

The opening game of the one-day series at the Wanderers was abandoned without a ball bowled on Friday but the forecast is better for Sunday's meeting at Centurion.