Smith sent home from ODI series

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 05: Graeme Smith of South Africa plays waterboy during the 1st Momentum ODI match between South Africa and India at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on December 05, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 05: Graeme Smith of South Africa plays waterboy during the 1st Momentum ODI match between South Africa and India at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on December 05, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

Published Dec 7, 2013

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Johannesburg – South African opening batsman Graeme Smith returned to Cape Town on Saturday even though two games remain in the One Day International (ODI) series against India, Cricket SA (CSA) announced.

Smith did not make the Proteas side which crushed India by 141

runs in the first ODI at the Wanderers on Thursday.

Quinton de Kock was given the nod ahead of him, and produced a man-of-the-match performance with an innings of 135.

“Smith has returned to Cape Town to focus on his Test match preparation ahead of the two-match Test series against India starting in Johannesburg on December 18,” CSA said in a statement.

CSA said Smith would be called on only if another player was injured.

Vernon Philander had recovered from a shoulder blade strain and was available for selection for the second ODI in Durban on Sunday, but Imran Tahir remained in doubt for the match. – Sapa

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