/ 5 January 2005

Langeveldt not out of equation

A hand surgeon confirmed on Wednesday that South African swing-bowler Charl Langeveldt has an uncomplicated fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his left hand.

Langeveldt sustained the injury on Monday, when a delivery from England’s Andrew Flintoff struck him on the hand on the second day of the third Castle Lager/MTN Test match.

Cricket South Africa’s media manager, Gerald de Kock, said Langeveldt will undergo aggressive treatment of the injury, and the situation will be reassessed in seven days’ time — the day before the start of the fourth Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

”He is definitely not out of the equation,” said De Kock. ”We have every hope that he will be able to play in the fourth Test.”

A special splint has been made to protect his left hand while batting, and Langeveldt will try this out in the nets over the next few days. — Sapa