The 49-year-old Rice sought medical advice following a gradual loss of hearing in his left ear and was diagnosed to have been suffering from tumour, according to information received here.

``It's called an acoustic neuroma and it's about four cm long,'' says Rice. ``The good news is that it's benign, although removing it will cost me the hearing in my left ear.''

Rice is a National cricket selector and is also involved with a cricket Academy for promising youngsters. The man, who played provincial cricket well into his 40s and is still highly-fit, is not letting the diagnosis affect his outlook or curb his activities. In fact, he races in one of South Africa's National Saloon Car Championships.

He said: ``This thing (the tumour) only affects my hearing at present, but in motor racing that can be a bit of a bonus.''

On the advice of UnitedCricket Board chief executive Ali Bacher, himself a doctor, Rice will undergo surgery in Hanover, Germany.

Rice expects to be ``out of action'' for about two months after the surgery. ``My balance will be gone and I'll be a bit messed up but right now I just want to get it over and done with.''