He has been replaced by Border's Makhaya Ntini, who took some convincing when The Star broke the news to him at a training session at Buffalo Park yesterday.
``Is this a joke? I don't believe you,'' said Ntini, who was initially at a loss for words after realising he had become the first black player to be selected for South Africa.
``It's a dream come true,'' he finally said after gathering his composure. ``It's unbelievable.
``I did a magazine interview this morning and was asked how I felt when the original squad was announced and my name wasn't there.
``I told the interviewer I had to take things as they came and that if I was patient my time would come. I didn't think it would be this soon!''
Boland fast bowler Telemachus was selected in the original squad of 16, which leaves for Australia later today, but after an examination by Prof Tim Noakes, chairman of the United Cricket Board of SA's medical committee, he was withdrawn from the party.
Noakes' report, which arrived on the desk of UCB managing director Ali Bacher yesterday morning, revealed two injuries.
``Roger has a minor strain in his right hamstring, but more serious is the fact that he has also strained his left abdominal muscles,'' said Bacher. That abdominal injury is similar to the one Telemachus suffered on the SA A tour of England last season.
``I am very disappointed,'' said Telemachus yesterday, ``but I have to admit that at the weekend I was only operating at 80 percent of my speed and efficiency.'' Ntini, a product of the UCB's development programme, is a 20-year-old who has become a regular in the Border side.
``I worked really hard at the Border academy during the winter and I feel I'm bowling better than at any other time,'' said Ntini. Bacher was full of praise for Ntini, highly regarded by coaches all over South Africa.
``Makhaya has come through superbly,'' said Bacher. ``We have every faith in him and feel he has the potential to play for South Africa at Test level on merit.'' Bacher confirmed that allrounder Brian McMillan, who was also not 100 percent fit when the squad was announced, would undergo a final examination today. McMillan's Western Province teammate Jacques Kallis, who underwent an emergency appendectomy on the tour of Pakistan, has fully recovered and has been given the green light to tour.
SQUAD Hansie Cronje (capt), Gary Kirsten (vice-capt), Adam Bacher, Herschelle Gibbs, Daryll Cullinan, Jacques Kallis, Brian McMillan, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Dave Richardson, Pat Symcox, Paul Adams, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher.