Rough, tough justice for a highly likeable young man who might only return to the side at Kingsmead for the third test of the series against the West Indies.
But even before he can accomplish that he needs to prove himself to the national selectors with his first outing for Natal expected to be against Boland in Paarl in a Standard Bank League outing on December 2.
He watched, with Shaun Pollock, the Dolphins start their day/night campaign at rain-soaked Willowmoore Park with a facile win by 112 runs over B Section Easterns.
Both players had travelled to the Reef yesterday to visit the Pretoria specialist who operated on Klusener and checked Pollock's back. Plans to play Polly tomorrow against Griqualand West in Kimberley were swiftly shelved. Frans Croje, the KwaZulu/Natal coach last night expressed the hope the red-haired all-rounder, expected to assume the vice-captaincy of the national team, would be ready for the day/night outing against Free State in Bloemfontein next Friday.
Klusener watched with some enjoyment Natal's latest find, blond left-arm quick Shaun Adam take two for 20 in seven overs in a game with as many bizarre twists and turns as a game of roulette.
First there was the hail storm then came the power failure and what calamity followed was never going to match either event as Easterns gave yet another impersonation of a provincial side in scoring 101 for six.
But then chasing a revised victory target of 6.65 runs an over against Natal was as ludicrous as was the recalculation of 214 off the 32 overs under the now ICC accepted Duckworth/Lewis system.
It was all a rather sick joke and a decidedly second rate performance - one to match what can only be described as shoddy media facilities.
Somewhere the recalculation saw an out-classed Easterns needing to score 22 runs more than Natal's 192 for six and scored off 4.2 overs or 26 balls more than Easterns were calculated to face.
But there was some sensible batting from Mark Bruyns and Andrew Hudson, but man of the match Keith Forde, who collected an accolade for his five dismissals, and Doug Watson, with 30 runs apiece, kicked the innings off to solid start.
There were problems when the television sound failed when there was a replay of Forde being allegedly caught behind early in the Natal innings. Not at all what the extension by TV replays was designed to do. So, with no sound the third umpire, Karl Hurter, declined to give the decision based on the evidence he had.
While Hudson batted with his usual brisk, calm assurance when putting together 51 off 55 balls, Bruyns looked accomplished in his role as Natal's No 3 in the one-day game. He showed some style while engineering 62 off 71 balls against an attack in which Andre Nel looked promising in helpful conditions.
Natal's bowlers were handicapped by wet ball on an outfield which had slowed considerably after the rain but Easterns, at 38 for three after six overs, were never in the hunt.. ends it
Missing Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener who made the trip to the Reef to see the Pretoria doctor who specialises in joint injuries, Natal's total of 192 for five wickets of 36.2 overs was suddenly hiked on the estimated run rate to 214 off 32 overs.
There was some sensible batting from Mark Bruyns and Andrew Hudson, but Keith Forde and Doug Watson, with 30 runs apiece, kicked the innings off to solid start, although there were problems when the television sound failed when there was a replay of Ford's alleged catch behind.
Not at all what the extension by TV replays was designed to do. So, with no sound the third umpire, Karl Hurter, declined to give the decision based on the evidence he had.
While Hudson batted with solid, calm assurance when putting together 51 off 55 balls, Bruyns looked accomplished in his role as Natal's No 3 in the one-day game. He showed some style while engineering 62 off 71 balls against an attack in which Andre Nel looked promising in helpful conditions.
Natal's bowlers were handicapped by wet ball on an outfield which had slowed considerably after the rain.