Follow UsWorld Test Championship (WTC)-winning skipper Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of South Africa’s two-match Test series against Zimbabwe with a hamstring injury. In his absence, it will be left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj who will be leading the Proteas side for the series.
Bavuma, who sustained a hamstring injury during the WTC final against Australia, hasn’t yet recovered from his injury and will need further scans to determine his return. The right-hander was on six runs during South Africa’s run chase when he injured his hamstring.
While it was expected that he would walk back to the dressing room, Bavuma dealt with the pain expertly, batting through the day. Eventually, he was out on the fourth day of play, on 66, but his knock ultimately helped South Africa get past Australia by five wickets and script a new page in the history books.
Unfortunately for Bavuma, it is the third hamstring injury that he has sustained over the last two years, after the 2023 ODI World Cup and the home Test against India.
Bavuma aside, South Africa have also rested WTC Final’s Player of the Match, Aiden Markram, alongside Kagiso Rabada. Lungi Ngidi, meanwhile, will be available for the second Test only.
David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi (second Test only), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf