Petersen suffers grade one hamstring strain

Alviro Petersen will not field in the Headingley Test, but will bat again if required, after sustaining a grade one strain to his right hamstring. He will require seven to ten days to recover but should be fit fot selection for the thrid Test at Lord's, which starts on August 16.

The results of Petersen's scans were received by the South African team management on Saturday morning and they confirmed assistant coach Russell Domingo's statements late yesterday afternoon that the injury was "not too serious." Jacques Rudolph will be likely to open with Smith in the second innings.

Petersen scored 182 runs and spent eight hours and 53 minutes at the crease over the first two days of the Test. It is understood that the damage was done while Petersen was playing a cut shot in the eighth over of the morning.

Petersen reached for a short and wide ball from James Anderson to usher it over the slips and in so doing, hurt his hamstring. He did not receive treatment immediately and only called for the physiotherapist after passing his previous highest Test score of 156.

A series of stretches and some pills allowed Petersen to continue to lunch. He lasted five overs after lunch before nicking off on 182. In total, Petersen batted for 24.4 overs after the injury was sustained.

Although he did not limp noticeably at any stage during his innings, he did appear uncomfortable in parts. Faf du Plessis, who was drafted into the squad on Tuesday after Albie Morkel was ruled out, took his place in the field during the start of England's innings.

Petersen also suffered an injury at the beginning of the tour, when he hurt the joints in his left foot while out on a jog. He missed the first tour match against Somerset in Taunton as a precaution but returned to bat against Kent three days later.

He is the fourth South Africa player to be injured in England. Mark Boucher's lacerated eyeball in Taunton ended the veteran wicketkeeper's career, Marchant de Lange's lower back spasms ruled him out for six weeks and his replacement Albie Morkel is currently carrying an ankle injury, which made him unavailable for consideration in this match.