IND vs SA: Anrich Nortje ruled out of Test series- South Africa express fast bowler has been ruled out of the three-match Test series due to a persistent hip injury. The development comes as a huge blow to Cricket South Africa in the build-up of the Boxing Day Test match at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The latest development will lead to a selection headache for Dean Elgar & Co to fill the void. Follow India Tour of South Africa updates on InsideSport.IN
“Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the 3-match #BetwayTestSeries due to a persistent injury. No replacement will be brought in,” CSA wrote in a Tweet post.
CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra told ESPNcricinfo that is struggling with he niggle and does not have enough strength to feature in the Test series. The pacer, who has not bowled since the T20 World Cup 2021 in November, is undergoing rehabilitation and is aiming to be ready for the ODI series against India starting January 19.
The Proteas have commenced their final preparation ahead of the first match starting on Boxing Day. It is the Test team’s first series since their successful tour to the West Indies in July this year, where they won the series two-nil. The teams will be playing for vital, ICC World Test Championship points.
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#Proteas Squad update 🚨
Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the 3-match #BetwayTestSeries due to a persistent injury 🚑
No replacement will be brought in#SAvIND #FreedomSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/5R8gnwdcpF
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 21, 2021
- Anrich Nortje is an express fast bowler with the ability to bowl consistently at 150 kmph.
- He was likely to be used for his lethal bouncers to his armoury and produce a different challenge to Indian batsmen in SA.
- After rubbing shoulders with a number of Indian players in IPL, Nortje could have been troublesome for India in pace friendly conditions at home.
- Nortje has scalped 47 wickets in just 12 games which include 3 five-wicket hauls.
- In 2021, He took 25 wickets in 5 Tests with a career-best of 6/56 against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg.
The latest development comes as a big relief for Virat Kohli & Co as Rabada & Nortje in pair are known to damage a lot of opposition, including the IPL tournament.
With Nortje ruled out of the Test series, the focus will be on Duanne Oliver who has taken 48 wickets in 10 Tests. He is likely to pair the SA premium pacer Kagiso Rabada.
South Africa’s Test squad
Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier
Test Series Schedule
1st Test: 26-30 December 2021 (SuperSport Park, Centurion)
2nd Test:3-7 January 2022 (Wanderers, Johannesburg)
3rd Test: 11-15 January 2022 (Newlands, Cape Town)
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IND vs SA: Big blow to South Africa, Anrich Nortje ruled out of Test series
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