South Africa’s fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of action until January 2025 due to a groin injury, missing the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and the all-format tour of Pakistan.
Ngidi, who has not featured in competitive cricket since South Africa’s ODI series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last month, underwent medical assessments during his rehabilitation period. Scans revealed bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy, a condition affecting the groin area. As a result, Ngidi will begin a structured rehabilitation programme, with his return to international cricket anticipated in January.
This injury comes as a blow to South Africa’s fast-bowling attack, particularly with the team preparing for a busy summer of Test cricket, including the two-match series against Sri Lanka, which begins on November 27 in Durban. Ngidi’s absence will also impact the team’s preparations for the subsequent tour of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, South African captain Temba Bavuma is making positive strides in his recovery from a left elbow injury, which has kept him sidelined since early October. Bavuma sustained the injury during the ODI series against Ireland and has since been undergoing treatment. The injury is on the same elbow that kept Bavuma out of action during South Africa’s 2022 T20I tour of India.
Bavuma, South Africa’s leading run-scorer in Tests over the past three years, has not played any competitive cricket since the Ireland series. He will undergo a fitness test on November 18, which will determine his availability for the first Test against Sri Lanka. If Bavuma is not fit in time, Aiden Markram is expected to captain the side, although he has struggled for form with the bat in recent months. Markram has only crossed fifty once in his last seven Test innings and has had a tough run in T20s, where he leads the side.
The injury has also meant Bavuma has missed out on game time for his domestic team, the Lions, who are playing a first-class match this week. If Bavuma is unavailable for the Sri Lanka series, Ryan Rickelton could slot into the batting order, having played modestly in the Bangladesh Test series earlier this year.
Bavuma’s leadership of South Africa has been disrupted by injuries in recent years, and he has only captained three of South Africa’s eight matches in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. However, South Africa remains in a strong position to qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s. To secure their spot, they will need to win all four of their remaining home Tests, though three victories coupled with other results could also see them through.
South Africa will be hoping both Bavuma and Ngidi make full recoveries in time for the crucial part of the 2024-25 cricket season.
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