Morkel to replace injured Kallis against India

Nottingham:

Assured of a place in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20, South Africa will rest in-form Jacques Kallis and field Morne Morkel in the dead rubber against India here on Tuesday.

"Jacques has a niggle in the upper region of his back," explained South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

"Jacques could have played on but we don't want to take risks and make sure he is ready for our semi-final whether it is on Thursday or Friday," he said.

"He is two players in one and we have decided to take the bowling option with his replacement. Herschelle Gibbs will open the batting and this allows us to move all our batsmen one place up the order. Some of them are short of batting time in the middle and this should provide the opportunity," Smith added.

Tomorrow's match will decide whether South Africa finish first or second in Group E. If they finish first, they play the second placed team in Group F at Trent Bridge on Thursday. If they finish second, they play the top placed team in Group F at The Oval on Friday.

The final takes place at Lord's on Sunday.

Smith said he was aware of the fact that both West Indies and England had targeted the Indian top order with short pitched bowling and that Morkel was a specialist in this area.

"As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed in that regard. India have always struggled against quality fast bowling outside the Asian sub-continent," he added.