South Africa's premier all-rounder Jacques Kallis, is out of the rest of the MTN one-day international (ODI) series against England because of as fractured rib cartilage.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur, said on Saturday Kallis incurred the injury during the Champions League tournament in India last month.

"The initial scan and subsequent scans were inconclusive, but when he tried to bowl the other day, he was still hurting, so this morning he went for an MRI which revealed a fracture of the rib cartilage," said Arthur.

"Our first priority is to get him fit for the Test series, so we have ruled him out of the rest of the ODIs.

"We will call up a replacement, who will join us in Cape Town on Friday, but in the meantime, Hashim Amla will open the batting with Graeme Smith.

"Hashim has travelled with the ODI team for some time, and did very well when he stood in for Graeme in Australia, so we are well covered," said Arthur.

He said the replacement for Kallis would probably be named on Sunday.

Arthur said Kallis's rehabilitation would be carefully monitored, and he would not be rushed into bowling in the first Test, which begins at Supersport Park on Wednesday December 16.

He said although the loss of Kallis was a blow to the team, he was pretty relaxed about it.

"You don't replace a guy like Kallis in terms of the balance that he brings," he said.

"But Amla will fill his shoes in an admirable way. I'm more downbeat about the weather - not being able to get out there, because I love getting the boys out there and not playing last night and having our preparations affected today, dampens my enthusiasm a little bit."

The first ODI, at the Wanderers on Friday night, was washed out by persistent rain. It was gloomy and overcast at Centurion on Saturday, although weather forecasts indicate play should be possible in the second ODI on Sunday.

Arthur revealed South Africa would play only one spinner on Sunday, with Roelof van der Merwe getting the nod ahead of Johan Botha.

"There's nothing sinister in that," he said.

"Johan will play during the series, and looking ahead to our next series in India, we will be taking two spinners there and two spinners are part of our strategy for the World Cup in 2011.

"So Roelof has got the inside track right now, but they're both going to play in the series, and it doesn't affect our squad."

Sapa

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