POTCHEFSTROOM - Jonty Rhodes has been ruled out for three weeks with a broken hand and will find out later today whether he will be replaced in South Africa's World Cup cricket squad.
Widely regarded as the best fielder in the world and the team's talisman, Rhodes suffered the injury duringthe tournament hosts' 10-wicket win over Kenya in group B yesterday.
Rhodes, 33 and due to retire from international cricket after the tournament, saw a specialist in Johannesburg late yesterday and underwent surgery to pin the hand after X-rays confirmed the break.
"It's not the end of the world. There's never a good time to break your hand at a World Cup but if it has to happen, perhaps this is as good a time as any, because there's time to recover before the Super Sixes," he said today.
Team officials will discuss the issue later today before deciding whether to replace Rhodes.
Rhodes had spilt a catch offered from Maurice Odumbe near the end of the Kenya innings before being replaced by 12th man Andrew Hall.
Rhodes, whose athleticism in the field is often said to be worth 30 runs per innings and who also plays a key role as a batting "finisher", had the same hand X-rayed after South Africa's shock opening defeat to West Indies.
That showed severe bruising but no break.
Rhodes, also a hockey international, retired from test cricket in 2000.
"I have no idea what the selectors are going to do. I have played with pain before and I'm prepared to do it again," Rhodes said.
South Africa team physiotherapist Shane Jabaar said: "The two pins will be in for three weeks to allow the fracture to heal.
"Thereafter there will be pain but it can be managed. During the period of recuperation Rhodes will continue to train."
