South African spinner Nicky Boje faces surgery on his left leg after tearing a ligament and breaking a bone above the ankle while fielding during South Africa’s four-wicket loss to England here on Tuesday night.
Boje, who substituted for the injured Martin van Jaasveld, went over his ankle as he tried to field the first ball he had to deal with on the field following the drinks break.
He was carried off the field and immediately left by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he will face surgery as early as Wednesday.
”He has a fractured tibia and a ruptured medial ankle ligament in his left leg,” said Gerald de Kock, the media manager for the tourists.”
The tourists are also anxiously waiting on the progress of allrounder van Jaasveld, who aggravated a groin injury while batting having being hit during training before the start of the match.
He went to hospital in the same ambulance with Boje.
Van Jaasveld held the innings together with a fighting 45 after the tourists slumped to 104 for seven after choosing to bat.
”It is sad when guys in the team get injured,” said skipper Graeme Smith. ”Key players in the squad are carrying injuries.
Hopefully Martin is not serious. It cuts down our options but that’s the nature of the game.”
Also nursing a groin strain is England swing bowler Richard Johnson, who left the field after bowling eight overs when South Africa batted.
His progress will be monitored and will face a fitness test on the eve of the one-day final at Lord’s. A decision will be made after that. – Sapa-AP