Pollock heads out to West Indies

Shaun Pollock will join up with the South African squad in the West Indies after recovering from the ankle injury that has kept him out of the opening two Tests. He will leave South Africa on Sunday, and arrive ahead of the third Test, which starts in Barbados on April 21.

The South African selectors resisted the temptation to rush Pollock back into the side for the start of the series, instead allowing him to prove his fitness in the domestic Pro20 competition. Yesterday he smashed 49 from 36 balls and bowled his four overs for just 18 runs.

Pollock's arrival in the Caribbean will mean a reshuffle to the bowling attack that powered South Africa to victory during the second Test in Trinidad. Makhaya Ntini took 13 wickets, while Andre Nel has put in some wholehearted performances and would be unlucky to lose the new ball.

But Pollock told SABC News that he is willing to fight for his place: "That is obviously the chance I have to take once I get over there. You can do only so much bowling in the nets, and I just have to see if they are willing to take the risk for the third Test. If not then I will bowl in the nets and play in the fourth Test match."

A more likely option is that Monde Zondeki will drop out of the team to allow Pollock to return, a move which would also add considerable strength to the lower order. South Africa have struggled to cover Pollock's absence, trying a combination of Andrew Hall and Charl Langeveldt for the first Test in Guyana before reverting to a more balanced attack at Port-of-Spain - a move that paid dividends with an eight-wicket victory.