Smith out as Rudolph reaches ton landmark

GLAMORGAN all-rounder Ruaidhri Smith has been ruled out for six weeks after suffering a sideinjury in the warm up clash with

Smith had bowled just 1.4 overs against Gloucestershire on Monday in the first run out at The SSE SWALEC this year before going off the field clutching his side in the third over of the innings.

“Scans have revealed Ruaidhri suffered a significant oblique abdominal tear and it looks as if he will be out for at least six weeks,” said Glamorgan physio Mark Rausa.

“The way Ruaidhri is built means he puts a lot of force through that area when he bowls. He suffered a similar incident last year which caused a rib injury, however on this occasion it looks as if the rib has pinched into the muscle causing a tear. We will monitor him closely and put together a plan to get him back to fitness as soon as possible.

“He joins Will Bragg and Kieran Bull who both have back injuries plus Graham Wagg who has a tight groin on the sidelines. All three are likely to sit out the final pre-season fixture against Nottinghamshire starting on Sunday.”

Glamorgan skipper Jacques Rudolph hit the earliest recorded century in a season for the Welsh county when he hit 142 in the warmup match against Cardiff MCCU.

Rudolph replaced Mark Wallace’s 122 not out on March 31, 2012, in the record books as he guided Glamorgan to 342-7 on a rain-affected second day in Cardiff.

It was the South African’s 50th hundred of his first-class career and he received support from Aneurin Donald (63).