Pollock doubtful for first Test

Shaun Pollock is unlikely to be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka, in Colombo, next month as his wife his due to give birth a few days before the match starts.

Cricinfo has learnt that Pollock does not think he'll be able to reach Sri Lanka in time for the July 27 start of the series with Trish Pollock expecting to deliver on July 23. However, he should be available for the second Test, which starts on August 4, plus the triangular one-day tournament involving Sri Lanka and India.

"We had planned it for before the tour started, but now they've moved the tour earlier," Pollock told Reuters. The caesarean will take place on either July 21 or 25 and obviously I'll be trying to get to Sri Lanka straight afterwards. "I might miss the first Test, but Cricket South Africa are happy because it really wasn't our fault with the tour dates changing."

However, Haroon Lorgat, the convenor of the national selection panel, was optimistic about Pollock's chances of making it to the first Test, but he didn't think his absence would affect the team's performance.

"There's only a very small probability of him not making it in time for the first Test. But it's not an issue because we'll have back-up in the squad and I am keen to rotate and rest players," said Lorgat.

If Pollock does miss the opening encounter, South Africa will field a severely weakened side after Jacques Kallis was ruled out of the tour after surgery on his elbow. In recent months Pollock has been forced down the pecking order of South African pacemen, with the emergence of Dale Steyn, but still remains a key performer in both forms of the game.