JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South African off-spinner Johan Botha, reported for a suspect bowling action on Monday, will not play in the fifth and final one-day international against Australia today, captain Graeme Smith said.
“Johan has been an integral part of our side, but we’re not going to play him tomorrow because we just want to take the focus off him a bit,” Smith told a news conference on Thursday.
Botha was reported by the umpires for a suspected illegal bowling action after the fourth ODI in Port Elizabeth, which South Africa won to clinch the series.
The 26-year-old will fly to Perth for independent analysis of his action in the next three weeks.
Botha has been replaced in the team by pace bowler Morne Morkel, while fellow Eastern Cape Warriors bowler Wayne Parnell will be replaced by Makhaya Ntini.
Team: Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
