Pollock to miss first Test

Shaun Pollock has been ruled out of the first Test against West Indies, which begins in Guyana on March 31, after failing to recover from a long-term injury to his left ankle.

Pollock, who has played through the pain all season, limped out of South Africa's attack after five overs of their second innings against Zimbabwe at Cape Town, and was rested for the second Test at Centurion which started later that week.

"Shaun has a chronic deep tendonitis injury caused by overuse, and is taking a little bit longer to respond to treatment which is not uncommon with these types of injuries," said Shane Jabaar, the team physiotherapist. "He will be monitored on a constant basis and should he show sufficient improvement and be able bowl symptom-free, a decision on when he will join the tour will be taken at that time."

It had been hoped that a fortnight of R&R would solve the problem, but Pollock will not now fly out with the rest of the team on Wednesday, and will instead remain in Durban for further treatment. He will undergo a fitness test before joining his team-mates, but at present he is unlikely to be in consideration for the second Test in Trinidad either.

"It's still niggling me," Pollock told the Sunday Argus earlier this week. "I can run OK, although there's a little bit of pain, but it's slamming the left foot down that is the problem. It's basically a wear-and-tear injury that's been equated to patella tendonitis [tennis elbow] that's difficult to get rid of unless you rest it."

No replacement will be named at this stage, as South Africa's other injury worries are on the mend. Charl Langeveldt (lower left back) and Andre Nel (left hamstring) have both passed fitness tests, while Jacques Kallis (right hip) is, according to Jabaar, 80% fit and will undergo a bowling fitness test before the first Test.