Nel ruled out of Australian tour with foot injury

SYDNEY – South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel will miss his team’s triangular one-day series in Australia after breaking a bone in his foot.

“Andre Nel has a stress fracture in his foot and is coming home on Friday,” Chris Day of the United Cricket Board of South Africa said on Thursday. “He will be replaced by Dale Steyn,” he told Reuters in Johannesburg.Nel is expected to be out of action for up to a month after x-rays confirmed he had cracked a bone in his left foot.He is the second South African quick to be injured on the tour after Makhaya Ntini injured his knee in the Melbourne test.All-rounders Jacques Kallis and Justin Kemp both missed tests with injury while middle-order batsman Ashwell Prince was ruled out of this week’s Twenty20 match against Australia because of a hamstring strain.The Proteas, who lost the three-test series 2-0, play the Queensland Academy of Sport in a practice match on Friday before taking on Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.- Nampa-Reuters”He will be replaced by Dale Steyn,” he told Reuters in Johannesburg.Nel is expected to be out of action for up to a month after x-rays confirmed he had cracked a bone in his left foot.He is the second South African quick to be injured on the tour after Makhaya Ntini injured his knee in the Melbourne test.All-rounders Jacques Kallis and Justin Kemp both missed tests with injury while middle-order batsman Ashwell Prince was ruled out of this week’s Twenty20 match against Australia because of a hamstring strain.The Proteas, who lost the three-test series 2-0, play the Queensland Academy of Sport in a practice match on Friday before taking on Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.- Nampa-Reuters