South African left-arm spinner Nicky Boje is out of the West Indian tour and is to return home for surgery to an injured left shoulder.

Boje, who bowled 45 overs in the West Indies second innings on Tuesday, will have an operation next week to repair a damaged tendon in his shoulder.

"It is a longstanding injury for which he had a diagnostic scope last April," said South African team physiotherapist Craig Smith on Thursday. "At that time we saw he had a torn tendon attachment. It was decided not to repair it then as the time off last winter was too short for him to recuperate, but to do it after this season. "So since we have won the series we decided to send him home for the op now to allow him a longer time to recover so as not to rush him back for the Zimbabwe tour in September."

It is not known whether South Africa will call for a replacement for Boje or whether Paul Adams, the second spinner in the touring party, will be asked to stay on for the one-day internationals which follow the Test series.

Adams was originally due to fly back to South Africa on completion of the Test series with the uncapped Boland all-rounder Justin Ontong joining the team for the one-day series. With Boje out of the tour, this option is almost certain to be reconsidered with South Africa unlikely to approach the one-dayers without spin cover.

Adams did not play in the first four Test matches and has scarcely bowled a ball in anger in the West Indies, but he now seems certain to be recalled for the Fifth Test in Jamaica, particularly if, as has been the case in the preceding Test matches, the pitch looks likely to help the spin bowlers.

Neither Gerald Majola, the UCB chief executive, nor chairman of selectors, Rushdi Magiet, were available for comment on Thursday morning.

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