Symonds ruled out with hip problem

Andrew Symonds will miss the tour-opening Twenty20 International against South Africa tonight after injuring his hip in training. Symonds, who has withdrawn from only two games for Australia with injury, suffered a low-grade strain to his left hip-flexor muscle during a session at the Wanderers on Thursday.

Errol Alcott, the Australia physiotherapist, said Symonds had responded well to treatment but would not play in the Twenty20 match. "He will continue to receive treatment and will be monitored over the next couple of days," he said. "A decison regarding his availability for Sunday will be made in due course."

Ricky Ponting said he hoped to have both Michael Hussey and Symonds in the team for the first of five one-day matches at Centurion on Sunday. Hussey is expected to arrive in South Africa on Saturday after his wife this week gave birth to their second child, a boy named William Oliver.

Symonds said he did not expect the problem to worry him for long. "I've only ever missed two games for Australia through injury so I am considerably frustrated," he said. "But I have a great mechanic in Errol."