Symonds not cleared yet for South Africa showdown

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Mar 21 (Reuters) Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds is still on course to play against South Africa in the final World Cup Group A match on Saturday but has not yet been officially declared match fit.

''We haven't actually cleared him to play,'' team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris told reporters today.

''We still haven't sat down with the selectors and discussed it at this point.'' Symonds has not played since tearing his right bicep muscle in a tri-series match against England last month.

Kountouris said Symonds's batting and bowling were unrestricted but there was still work to do on his throwing over the next two days ''I am just trying to get him to the highest possible level I can and let the others make the decision what he can and can't do,'' he said.

The seven-week World Cup in the Caribbean culminates in the final on April 28 in Barbados.

REUTERS DH VV2232