Eastern Province fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam has been ruled of South Africa's tour of the West Indies even though several blood tests to establish possible causes of a stress fracture of the right femur have produced normal results.

Dr Andre Killian, who ordered the blood tests, said: "We did a bone density test, which showed all his bones to be of normal density, as well as various blood tests which all came up normal. The injury has been caused by over-exertion." He said there was no evidence of any deficiency which would make Ngam susceptible to injury.

Killian said that Ngam, in his enthusiasm and drive, had been going for a daily run at a fast pace, in addition to putting himself through hours of bowling practice on his own outside the normal Eastern Province and South African squad sessions. "It's an over-use injury in an athlete who pushes himself very hard," he said.

Killian, who is based in Port Elizabeth and who sits on the UCB's medical committee, said Ngam would miss the South African tour to the West Indies in March, April and May. Killian estimates that it will take between six and 12 weeks for Ngam to recover from his injury and several weeks after that to reach match fitness. "Ngam has a long career ahead of him - it is not worth rushing him back for this tour," Killian explained.

Ngam said he was disappointed to miss out on the Caribbean tour. "But I want to get better so I can look ahead to other tours and the World Cup in 2003."

© UCB