A hamstring injury has forced opening batsman Justin Langer out of the second Test against South Africa, Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said on Monday.

Langer injured his left hamstring while batting in the opening Test on Sunday and scans, taken on Monday morning, revealed he had suffered a grade one strain.

Alcott said Langer would miss the second Test against South Africa, starting in Melbourne on December 26, and was in doubt for the third and final Test starting in Sydney on January 2.

"He's a healthy athlete and his recovery powers have always been pretty good," Alcott said.

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"He's got a definitive strain so it's running the gauntlet a bit if he's going to be right for Sydney but we're going to give it a whirl."

Langer missed the first two Tests of this summer's series against the West Indies [Images] but made 99 and 20 on his return in Adelaide then 37 and 47 against South Africa in Perth.

His unavailability for Melbourne will force the Australian selectors to reshuffle their side with Mike Hussey and Phil Jaques the most likely replacements.