Cricket: Graeme Smith should be available for Australia's visit to South Africa despite fracturing his hand on the second day of the third Test at the SCG. Smith was forced to retire hurt on 30 and go to hospital for x-rays after being struck by a rearing delivery from Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson late in the day.
He returned to the ground with his left hand and wrist in a plaster cast and will only bat again if the Proteas have a chance of winning or drawing the Test. No decision has been made as to who will take over the captaincy for the remainder of the game.
In reply to Australia's first-innings total of 445, the tourists moved onto 125 for one at stumps today on a wearing pitch.
Smith will not require surgery to repair the hand but will need to go under the knife to correct a problem with his right elbow.
He will return home in the next few days and is expected to be fit for Australia's visit to South Africa next month.
"When Graeme gets home next week he will be consulting our team and medical experts in Pretoria on the way forward for both the finger and his elbow," South Africa's media manager Michael Owen-Smith said.
"We anticipate he will be fully fit for the home series."