JOHANNESBURG (Reuters)
Left-arm spinner Claude Henderson has been called up to replace the injured Nicky Boje for South Africa's tour of Australia starting next month. Henderson was put on standby for the tour after fellow slow left-armer Boje suffered a recurrence of a knee injury. Henderson played his first two Tests against Zimbabwe in September. Boje, who recently returned to action following shoulder and knee surgery which cut short his tour to West Indies last summer, was diagnosed with an inflamed tendon by a Cape Town surgeon on Wednesday.

"It does not look as bad as it did but, on advice from the surgeon, we can't take the risk of Nicky going to Australia now," South African team physiotherapist Craig Smith was quoted as saying in a statement released by the United Cricket Board on Thursday. "Nicky will have treatment and rehabilitation in South Africa and maybe some domestic cricket over the next few weeks."

Convenor of selectors Rushdi Magiet said Boje would have a fitness test in South Africa before being considered for the one-day internationals that follow the Test matches in Australia. The 15-man South African test squad leaves for Australia on Saturday.

South Africa squad Shaun Pollock (capt), Mark Boucher (vice-capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Steve Elworthy, Herschelle Gibbs, Nantie Hayward, Claude Henderson, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Jacques Rudolph.

Jonty Rhodes, Justin Kemp and Charl Langeveldt to join the squad for the one-day series.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd