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South Africa get Smith scare ahead of India Test

KOLKATA, India - South African captain Graeme Smith suffered a finger injury on Friday, causing a scare in the tourists’ camp ahead of a decisive Test match against India.

Smith hurt the little finger on his left hand during the team’s fielding session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where the second and final Test starts on Sunday.

“An MRI scan has confirmed that Smith has suffered ligament damage,” team spokesman Michael Owen-Smith said in a statement.

“There is considerable swelling around the injury. But the medical team is confident that the swelling will subside in the next 24 hours.”

A decision on Smith’s availability for the match will be taken after he undergoes a fitness test on Saturday.

“Smith will put his finger to the test at Saturday’s practice at Eden Gardens after which a decision will be taken on his fitness to play in the second Test,” Owen-Smith said.

South Africa, who won the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and six runs on Tuesday, need a draw to dislodge India from the number one position in the official Test rankings.