Peterson replaces the replacement

Two days after Charl Langeveldt was called up as a replacement for South Africa's two-Test tour of India after Nicky Boje declined to go, he has pulled out injured and been replaced himself. Robin Peterson, the slow left-armer from the Warriors, will fill the vacant spot.

Langeveldt, 29, suffered a back injury during a long bowling stint for the Highveld Lions against Western Province-Boland - for whom Graeme Smith scored a double-century - at the weekend.

Shane Jabaar, South Africa's physiotherapist, confirmed that Langeveldt would not be able to tour: "He has an irritated left sacro-iliac joint and a facet-joint sprain on the left side of his lower back. He will need about two to three weeks' rest and rehabilitation before he can bowl again."

Peterson, 25, was unlucky not to have been called up as a like-for-like replacement in the first place after Boje decided he did not wish to face possible further questioning by the Delhi police over the match-fixing allegations that surfaced on South Africa's last tour there, in 1999-2000.

Omar Henry, South Africa's selection convener, explained: "With Jacques Rudolph unable to bowl at all, we felt that Peterson would offer another spin alternative." Peterson, who is also a handy batsman, has played in four Tests, most recently in the 189-run defeat of West Indies at Johannesburg last December, and 21 one-day internationals.