De Wet Ruled Out Of Final Test Against England

De Wet Ruled Out Of Final Test Against England

Friedel de Wet (right) picks up the ball prior to running out Kevin Pietersen at Centurion Park earlier in the series.

©REUTERS/Philip Brown (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Africa have suffered another blow ahead of the fourth and final Test against England with the news that fast bowler Friedel de Wet will not be available due to his back injury.

He aggravated the injury during the drawn third Test in Cape Town and although he was named in what was originally a 15-man squad for the final match, he was scheduled to have a scan ahead of the match to assess the extent of the injury.

His withdrawal has cut the squad down to 13 members after the withdrawal of leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who is not yet eligible to represent South Africa.

De Wet's exclusion means that either Wayne Parnell or Ryan McLaren could be handed a Test debut in Johannesburg, where South Africa must win to avoid losing the series.

After two draws and an innings win in Durban, England lead the series 1-0.

De Wet made his debut in the opening match at Centurion as a replacement for Dale Steyn, taking four wickets and running out Kevin Pietersen as South Africa almost forced a victory before sitting out the Durban defeat. He returned to the side in Cape Town, where he took one wicket despite being restricted by injury.

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