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Graeme Smith's
involvement with South Africa in the Champions Trophy in England next
month has been thrown into doubt because of the flaring up of a
long-term ankle injury that will require surgery.
Smith had scans in London on the ankle on Wednesday and Surrey announced
that he would return home to South Africa immediately to undergo an
operation. South Africa are set to feature in the opening fixture of the
Champions Trophy, against India on June 6, in just over four weeks'
time.
"To have to head home now, so early in my time at Surrey is very
frustrating but I leave the team in a good place and hope to be back
with them as soon as possible," Smith said.
Smith is contracted for three years and, although Surrey are resigned to
the fact that his brief tenure as captain is already at an end for this
season, they are confident he will return in 2014. He will not play
against Durham in the Championship match beginning at The Oval on Friday
and leaves Surrey in the bottom two of the first division.
Surrey's team director, Chris Adams, said: "Graeme has made an
impressive start as a leader and the squad have really responded to his
leadership. It's clearly disappointing for all, especially Graeme, but
we wish him a speedy recovery."
Smith missed South Africa's fifth ODI against Pakistan in Benoni at the
end of March and at the time Dr Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa's team
manager, referred to a "chronic left ankle problem".
He added: "We have been trying to manage him but unfortunately the
impingement syndrome slowed him down today and he is quite symptomatic.
He has had surgery on this ankle a while ago and I think the load and
the volume of cricket for the year, and particularly during this ODI
series, has troubled him."
Nevertheless, Smith, who described his ankle problem as "an ongoing
problem", honoured his contract with Surrey, aware that he was regarded
as a prestigious signing who could bring stability to the club following
a traumatic period brought about by the death on the London underground
of their England Lions batsman Tom Maynard.
Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, has already been signed as
Smith's replacement, but he was not scheduled to arrive until the start
of the Champions Trophy and will see out his IPL contract with Mumbai
Indians.
Morgan Smith, Smith's wife, referred to his expected arrival back in
South Africa in a veiled message on Twitter. "Looks like I'm off to Cape
Town tomorrow," tweeted @morgandean.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
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© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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