South Africa have lost another fast bowler, with Lungi Ngidi ruled out of all three ODIs against Australia through injury.
The injury
Ngidi was hurt playing for the Titans against the Dolphins in a first-class match. He bowled eight overs in the first innings and 8.3 in the second before leaving the field. Scans on September 18 confirmed a hamstring injury that needs rehabilitation. South Africa will assess his recovery before deciding on his availability for the Test series against Australia, which begins on October 9.
Replacement
Twenty-year-old pace bowler Nqobani Mokoena has been called up. He has already made his ODI debut, on South Africa’s tour of Namibia, and is playing first-class cricket for the Dolphins.
A depleted pace attack
Kagiso Rabada was earlier ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up in training, and Ottneil Baartman is also unavailable with a hamstring problem, with Duan Jansen brought in for him. Marco Jansen is expected to lead the attack, supported by Duan Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka, with Mokoena another young option.
The ODIs are on September 24, 27 and 30, so South Africa will need to manage their bowlers carefully across the ODI and Test runs.
