Symonds hopeful of touring SA

Brisbane: Following a speedy recovery from knee injury, Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds' hopes of making a comeback to the Australia squad for the tour of South Africa in February. According to Fox Sports, Symonds is scheduled to begin running this week after undergoing an operation on New Year's Eve to clear loose fragments of cartilage from his right knee. The 33-year-old could return within three weeks, which would make him available for game three of Australia's one-day series with New Zealand on February 8 in Sydney. The Australian touring party leaves for South Africa on February 16.