Graeme Smith

Petersen to replace Smith for Champions Trophy

Johannesburg: Alviro Petersen has replaced fellow opening batsman Graeme Smith in South Africa's squad for next month's Champions Trophy.

Head selector Andrew Hudson says Petersen is "the obvious choice" to come in for former limited-overs captain Smith, who was ruled out of the ODI tournament to have surgery on his injured left ankle.

Petersen is currently playing for Somerset in English county cricket and is familiar with local conditions ahead of the Champions Trophy in England and Wales. Petersen is Smith's regular opening partner in Test cricket, but has only played 17 one-day internationals, the last of which was in January 2012.

Cricket South Africa said Tuesday that Petersen's place in South Africa's 15-man squad had been approved by the tournament's technical committee....more    

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