South Africa could tour India without spinner

Graeme Smith, the South African captain, has said that his side could tour India, for a series involving five ODIs beginning on November 16, without a recognised spinner. Smith believes that if the selectors fail to pick a spinner who can fulfill the role of strike bowler, one should not necessarily accompany the national side to the subcontinent.

"If you don't have a player who will make a contribution, there's no point in taking him with, just because he is a spinner," Smith was quoted as saying to news24.com, a South African website. "As captain you will rather have a player in your team on whom you can depend for seven or eight overs than one who bowls just three overs and then places the other bowlers under tremendous pressure."

Nicky Boje's decision not to travel to India with the squad has left an opening for a spinner. "If we don't have a spinner who can perform, we won't have a lot of variation, but at least the best team will play," Smith said. Although Smith declined to comment on who Boje's replacement might be, many have tipped Johan Botha, the Warriors spin bowler, as the man for the job. Botha's fitness will be monitored in the SuperSport match against the Highveld Lions this weekend because he was recently troubled by a finger injury.

Smith remains optimistic about finding a substitute for Boje. "We've got a few ideas for India and we hope that some players will come through. We thought it a good idea that some of the candidates should continue playing in the local competitions."