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| June 19, 2003 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1424 |
Kallis, Boje ruled out of tour opener
LONDON, June 18: South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis and spin bowler Nicky Boje will not be available for South Africa`s opening tour game against Ireland.
Kallis stayed behind in South Africa due to a death in the family and Boje will stay with his wife who is due to give birth to the couple’s first child.
Both Kallis and Boje are expected to meet up with the squad in England on Saturday.
Kallis, who missed the SA tour to Bangladesh earlier in the year after his father was diagnosed with lung cancer, will be a key member of the team as the South Africans look to become the first SA side to win a series in England since re-admission.
South Africa have left no stone unturned ahead of the tour as they try to regain their pride after a disappointing World Cup campaign in which they were knocked out in the first round.
The SA cricket board went so far as inviting former Indian Test player Ravi Shastri to prepare the players for the English press as the board attempt to change the public view of the team, who have often been criticised for their poor relations with both the foreign and local media.
Meanwhile, former South African star Jonty Rhodes, who is currently playing county cricket in England following his retirement from the international game, has come out in defence of Lance Klusener.
The South African squad has just arrived in England and Rhodes has said that the Smith-Klusener controversy is big news there.
“He is a hard man who is unflappable, and this is the sort of temperament the SA team is going to need,” Rhodes told Supersport Zone.
“I’m not going to comment on what Graeme Smith is reported to have said but the one thing Hansie Cronje taught me was not to criticise your opponents, let alone your own team-mates,” said Rhodes.
Smith was reported as saying that Klusener was left out of the SA squad after it was decided he would unsettle the squadIs morale.
The young captain and his side are looking to become the first South Africans since re-admission to win a Test series in England and Rhodes has warned Smith of the English mediaIs ability to apply extra pressure to touring teams.
“They do not let go easily, so I’m sure our new captain will have plenty of opportunities to explain himself. Good luck Smithy!”—PPI
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