Australian fans will not get to continue their love/hate relationship with South African Andre Nel this summer, after the paceman was ruled out of the VB series with a broken foot.
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Nel is suffering from a stress fracture in his foot and he will return home in a bid to be fully fit in preparation for Australia's tour of South Africa in March.
United Cricket Board of South Africa spokesman Chris Day said that Nel will be replaced for the current series, and will be flown back home immediately for treatment.
"Andre Nel has a stress fracture in his foot and is coming home on Friday … he will be replaced by Dale Steyn," Day told Reuters.
Nel seemed to be the Australian fan's pick of the South African players, with constant laughing, joking and jibing shared between Nel and the crowds throughout the Test series.
The news was a blow for the South Africans who have had an injury interrupted tour, with Jacques Kallis missing the start of the tour, and Makhaya Ntini injuring his knee during the second Test in Melbourne.
