SA keeps close watch on Pollock's knee

Sharjah - A "wait-and-see" attitude is prevailing in the Proteas camp over Shaun Pollock's knee injury. Team physiotherapist Craig Smith was reluctant to commit himself as to the severity of the injury, but did suggest that Pollock may miss out on Monday night's game against India.

Of Pollock's cartilage injury - a grade two tear in the medial meniscus of the right knee - Smith said: "We're waiting a couple of days to see how it settles down. Basically it's a day-by-day appraisal. We may need to rest him for one of the group games but hopefully he'll be fine for the final."

Pollock himself appeared to be less bothered by the injury than his team's management, describing it as "a niggle". Smith confirmed that Pollock had had scans to the knee, although they didn't reveal very much. The injury will be monitored constantly and should Pollock not take any further part in the tour Smith said that he was hopeful he would be fit and running to play against Australia in three eagerly awaited one-day Internationals during mid-April.

Pollock has had a long, hard season and his apparent cheeriness about the injury might be the best indication of all that there is nothing too much to worry about.

He might simply be suffering from a little attrition which, given rest and possibly a minor operation, will clear up in time.

Meanwhile, Jacques Kallis, who only bowled three overs against Pakistan on Friday night, is suffering from a back strain.

"He landed awkwardly and strained his back in the game against India," said Smith.

"We realised that if we didn't really need to bowl him - and they were scoring slowly last night - then we wouldn't and would rather give him the opportunity to rest."

Kallis did bat against Pakistan, scoring an elegant 35, but it is worrying nonetheless that both he and Pollock, crucial lynchpins in the South African attack, might have a negligible bowling role for the rest of the tour.

Hansie Cronje complained of lacking "firepower" during the one-dayers in India, this when Nantie Hayward and Henry Williams pulled up with injuries in Cochin, and he now be finding himself in a position where history is repeating itself.