England cricketer Mark Butcher has been ruled out of the rest of the tour to South Africa because of a sprained left wrist, a team spokesperson said on Monday.
”Mark’s injury hasn’t played up to the level he expected it to,” said David Clarke, ahead of the fourth Test between South Africa and England, which starts at the Wanderers cricket ground in Johannesburg on Thursday.
”He has been ruled out of the Wanderers Test match and it had been doubtful whether he’d be available for the fifth Test match [in Pretoria],” Clarke said.
The left-handed batsman is expected to return home to England later in the week.
Butcher — who has been training with a splint on the wrist to treat his injury, sustained early in the tour — has been unable to grip the bat properly, Clarke said.
”The injury had not improved. Mark was trying to hit a tennis ball but he has been unable to grip the bat properly,” Clarke said.
Butcher, who has been plagued by injuries through the season, will be replaced by Ian Bell, who made his Test debut last year by knocking 70 runs against the West Indies at The Oval.
Clarke said that other injury scares — including top all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who suffered a minor muscle tear under his rib, and paceman Matthew Hoggard — are expected to be fit for the fourth Test.
”Andrew Flintoff batted today, he’s fine. He didn’t bowl but there will be every expectation that he will be ready to play come Thursday to bat and bowl,” Clarke said. ”Matthew had no problem at the session this morning. He’s bowling normally.”
South Africa and England are both gunning for a win, going into the fourth Test squared on a win each and one draw. — Sapa-AFP