Steyn on standby for Ntini

Dale Steyn, the South African fast bowler, will stay back in Sri Lanka as cover for Makhaya Ntini, who looks a doubtful starter for the first match of the one-day tri-series due to a hamstring injury.

Ntini pulled out midway through his sixth over in Sri Lanka's second innings on the fourth day of the second Test and then bowled only two more overs in the rest of the innings. Steyn, originally not included in the ODI squad, was the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in the two-Test series with eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test. Ntini is currently seeking treatment from Shane Jabaar , the team physiotherapist.

"Shane Jabaar is treating Makhaya regularly and constantly assessing his condition," Gordon Templeton, the team's media officer, told Supercricket. "We just have to wait and see how he responds to treatment."

The other Test specialists, Nicky Boje, Hashim Amla and Jacques Rudolph left for Johannesburg early on Wednesday while the majority of the ODI squad trained at the SSC ground in Colombo. South Africa play their first match on Monday, against Sri Lanka.