England's preparations for the opening one-dayer in South Africa were thrown into further disarray this morning with the news that Graeme Swann has been ruled out through injury.
The spinner has been struggling with a side strain all week and will now miss at least the first two matches of the five-game series.
The main burden of the spin duties at the Wanderers in Johannesberg tomorrow will now be taken by Adil Rashid, while Kent leg-spinner James Treadwell has been called up as cover for Swann.
The call-up of a Treadwell will be seen in some quarters as something of a snub to Monty Panesar.
The former England first-choice spinner is currently in South Africa playing club cricket with the Highveld Lions, and he chose South Africa as a winter destination over a return to an Australian club side in order to be on hand for an eventuality such as this.
While he has never been seen as a one-day specialist, his last limited overs cap was won over two years ago, he will at least be familiar with the conditions in South Africa - the Wanderers is the Lions' home venue - unlike Treadwell, who is flying out this morning.
With Swann now joining seamer Stuart Broad on the sidelines, England will be desperate to ensure that the injury concerns of Paul Collingwood (back) and James Anderson (knee) don't rule them out of tomorrow's opener.
