Good news for England, unfortuante circumstances though..
Jacques Kallis will definitely miss the first npower Test against England at Edgbaston, starting this Thursday (July 24).
Kallis will stay at home in Cape Town with his father, who is suffering from lung cancer. It is not yet known whether he will miss any more Tests, but a South Africa team spokesman said: "He is not in our plans for the first Test at least."
Gerald de Kock, the South Africa media manager, said: "There was a possibility that he would be on a flight today, but that's now not going to happen." On when Kallis will return, de Kock said, "It might be a week, it might be a month. He's being given as much time as he needs."
Eric Simons, the coach, said in a statement "We appreciate that this is an extremely difficult and emotional time for Jacques. I have told him that he must take as much time as he needs to be with his father."
He added: "He is a vital member of our squad, but ultimately the wellbeing of a player's family comes before any game of cricket. The thoughts of the entire touring party are with Jacques."
A replacement is unlikely to be called up, meaning that Martin van Jaarsveld could take Kallis's place and make his fourth Test cap.
Jacques Kallis will definitely miss the first npower Test against England at Edgbaston, starting this Thursday (July 24).
Kallis will stay at home in Cape Town with his father, who is suffering from lung cancer. It is not yet known whether he will miss any more Tests, but a South Africa team spokesman said: "He is not in our plans for the first Test at least."
Gerald de Kock, the South Africa media manager, said: "There was a possibility that he would be on a flight today, but that's now not going to happen." On when Kallis will return, de Kock said, "It might be a week, it might be a month. He's being given as much time as he needs."
Eric Simons, the coach, said in a statement "We appreciate that this is an extremely difficult and emotional time for Jacques. I have told him that he must take as much time as he needs to be with his father."
He added: "He is a vital member of our squad, but ultimately the wellbeing of a player's family comes before any game of cricket. The thoughts of the entire touring party are with Jacques."
A replacement is unlikely to be called up, meaning that Martin van Jaarsveld could take Kallis's place and make his fourth Test cap.