Peterson joins SA squad

Robin Peterson, a 20-year-old left-arm spinner, has been flown to Sri Lanka as cover for Paul Adams.

Adams suffered a groin strain during Friday's Singer Cup final against Sri Lanka, and although the South Africans hope to have him fit for the three Test series which starts in Galle on Thursday, July 20.

The selection of Peterson, a South African Schools cap in 1996, may raise some eyebrows. He only established himself in the Eastern Province side last summer and is currently attending the Plascon Academy.

But with Herschelle Gibbs not in Sri Lanka and Adams possily unfit for at least the first Test match, the tourists might have found it difficult to adhere to United Cricket Board policy of fielding at least one player of colour in all national teams.

Makhaya Ntini and Roger Telemachus are both seamers, and if, as is likely, South Africa intend to field two spinners in the first Test, a more obvious replacement for Adams, such as Clive Eksteen, Derek Crookes or Claude Henderson, would have left South Africa with an all-white team.