Knee injury forces Samuels out of South African series

Marlon Samuels has been forced to pull out of West Indies' tour of South Africa after a recurrence of an injury to his right knee. Samuels is currently with the squad in South Africa and will fly back home for an operation. The same injury had forced him to miss the World Cup earlier this year. The West Indies senior selection panel have named uncapped Barbadian Dwayne Smith as his replacement.

The next course of action will be determined after consultation with the WICB Medical Panel and the receipt of the specialist report from South Africa which is expected to be received over the next few days.

Dwayne Smith, a twenty year old right-hand batsman who represented Barbados in the 2003 Red Stripe Bowl, said he is happy to have been selected to represent the West Indies. He said, "I've worked hard and it has paid off. I am happy with what I have done and grateful to be selected for the West Indies."

Samuels is the second West Indian player to return home from this tour. Jerome Taylor has already left the squad due to a back injury, and has been replaced by Dave Mohammed, a left-arm chinaman bowler from Trinidad and Tobago. A replacement for Samuels is expected to be named later today.

Meanwhile, there was some cheer for the West Indians when it was announced that Vasbert Drakes had recovered from his back strain and was expected to be fit for the first Test, which starts on December 12 at Johannesburg.