Smith out for Proteas

1:38pm Thursday 28th August 2008

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been ruled out of Friday's third NatWest Series match against England at The Oval due to a tennis elbow injury.

Smith was seeing a surgeon on Thursday to decide whether he will need an operation to cure the problem.

He therefore seems highly unlikely to return to take any further part in a series England lead 2-0 with three matches to play.

The focus will now switch to who will deputise for Smith as captain and who will replace him as a batsman at the top of the order.

Jacques Kallis is the man thought most likely to lead the Proteas in the final three matches of their tour.