South Africa endure second injury scare as Ontong pulls up

Already waiting on captain Shaun Pollock's fitness, South Africa suffered a further injury blow at the Wanderers on Wednesday when Justin Ontong pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Ontong found himself at the centre of a storm of controversy at the New Year when he was included in the South African team for the third Test against Australia at the insistence of United Cricket Board president Percy Sonn.

He acquitted himself reasonably well on a turning Sydney pitch, impressing many with his courage, but it was something of a surprise when the South African selectors retained him for Friday's first Test against Australia at the Wanderers.

The South African team management said that Ontong will be treated overnight before any decision is made on whether he will be able to play on Friday. With a decision also to be taken on Pollock, South African could scarcely be in a worse position as they seek to overturn the 3-0 hammering suffered in Australia.

Andre Nel has been put on standby for Pollock with Mark Boucher due to take over the captaincy if the Natalian withdraws from the team, but there is no automatic replacement for Ontong should he too be forced out of the Test match.

Graeme Smith, Jacques Rudolph and Daryll Cullinan were all tipped as possibilities for the Test match, but all three failed for South Africa A against Australia on Tuesday while Ashwell Prince, considered mainly as a one-day batsman, impressed with an accomplished 92 against the full-strength Australia Test attack.