INJURY has ruled Jonty Rhodes out of South Africa’s first match in the triangular one-day series on Friday.
The hamstring problem which put Rhodes out of the fifth and final test against England at Centurion Park earlier this week will also keep the middle order batsman out of the game against Zimbabwe at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Rhodes has been replaced in the squad by Northerns captain Neil McKenzie, who will remain in the reckoning for Sunday’s match against England in Bloemfontein as Rhodes is also doubtful for that game.
McKenzie was called up because Natal captain Dale Benkenstein, named in the original squad, is suffering from gastro-enteritis.
“If another of our batsmen goes down we could be in trouble, so McKenzie will join the squad,” said Rushdi Magiet, South Africa’s convenor of selectors.