Pollock to join squad on Thursday

Injury-hit South Africa have been boosted by the news that Shaun Pollock will arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday following the birth of his second child.

Pollock's wife Trish gave birth to the couple's second daughter, Georgia, in Durban on Friday and is expected to leave hospital later on Monday. Pollock had also missed a Test match when his first daughter Jemma was born during the fourth Test against England in 2003. "There was never a chance that Shaun could have arrived in time for the first Test," said Gordon Templeton, the team's spokesman. "But he will be here for the second game and also the one-day series."

Pollock will reach Colombo on the same day that the first Test begins at the Sinhalese Sports Club. However, he will have enough time to acclamatise to the hot and humid weather before he takes the field in the second Test from August 4.

Pollock needs six more wickets to join the 400 club. He has toured Sri Lanka twice before, in 2000 and 2004, and has taken 21 wickets in five Tests at 21.00 apiece with a best of 4 for 48 at Galle in 2004.