KEY POINTS:
Injury has forced the withdrawal of Wellington bowler James Franklin from the New Zealand one-day international cricket squad.
Franklin will have surgery on his right knee later this month, forcing him to miss the one-day series against South Africa, Cricket NZ said today.
New Zealand begin the first of two test matches against South Africa in Johannesburg tomorrow, followed by a Twenty20 match on November 23 and the three-match one-day series on November 25, 30 and December 2.
With rehabilitation expected to take four to six months, Franklin is also not available for the Chappell-Hadlee series in Australia in December.
A replacement would be named later this week.
Franklin limped out of a Wellington trial yesterday.
Wellington coach Anthony Stuart told the Dominion Post Franklin hobbled around during the trial.
" ...he felt he wasn't in a position where he could even be enjoying his cricket let alone playing at the level that he wants to play at."
- NZPA
