South Africa’s Fast Bowler Lungi Ngidi Ruled Out of Upcoming Test Series
South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, as well as the all-format tour against Pakistan, due to a groin injury. Ngidi, who last played in the ODI series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last month, underwent a medical assessment during his structured conditioning period, which revealed bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy. He will now begin a rehabilitation program and is expected to return to action sometime in January.
Temba Bavuma’s Fitness Concerns
Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s leading run-scorer in Tests over the last three years, is making positive progress in his recovery from a left elbow injury. Bavuma will undergo a fitness test on November 18 and is a potential doubt for the first Test of South Africa’s home summer against Sri Lanka, which is set to begin on November 27 in Durban.
“Bavuma has not played any competitive cricket since leaving the field in an ODI against Ireland early last month, and he did not feature in South Africa’s 2-0 Test series victory in Bangladesh.”
Bavuma will not play for his domestic team, the Lions, in a first-class match starting today in Potchefstroom, which would have been his last opportunity for game time before the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Aiden Markram’s Opportunity
If Bavuma is unable to play, Aiden Markram will lead the South African team, despite his own recent struggles with form. Markram has only crossed the fifty-run mark once in his last seven Test innings and has also experienced a challenging time in the T20 format, where he is the team’s captain. Bavuma’s spot in the batting order could be retained by Ryan Rickelton, who played in the Tests against Bangladesh with modest returns.
“Bavuma had sustained the elbow injury when he fell awkwardly while completing a run during the ODI against Ireland. The injury is on the same elbow that he had previously hurt in 2022 on a T20I tour of India, which also ruled him out of South Africa’s tour of England later that year.”
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