Arthur confident of Smith's return for Lord's test

South African coach Mickey Arthur is confident that Graeme Smith who is nursing a hamstring injury will be fit for the first Test against England next month at Lord’s. Graeme Smith tore his hamstring two weeks back while playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), the inaugural series hosted by India.

Smith earlier told reporters that he was still recovering from the injury and would be “struggling” to get back to fitness ahead of the first Test against England which commences on July 10. The South African coach, however, was of a different viewpoint and said that Smith’s injury was a ‘grade two injury’ which normally takes around four weeks to heal so he was confident of the skipper getting fit in time for the matches.

Graeme Smith averages 48.57 in Test matches for his side and coming in as opener, plays a pivotal role in setting up proceedings. Arthur added that Smith may miss the first warm-up game of the series against Somerset but should be fit enough to play for the second warm-up tie against Middlesex which is scheduled to take place on July 4 prior to the first Test match.

The South Africans will be holding a training camp at Johannesburg prior to leaving for the United Kingdom. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is also said to have picked up a slight niggle which playing for the IPL for his team, Bangalore Royals Challengers. But Arthur was confident that by the time his team reaches England he will have a fully fit side.

Along with the Test matches, the touring South Africans will also play five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match against the English on their long tour there.