London on 14 August : South Africa’s right-arm fast spinner Duanne Olivier was exiled of the three-match Test series that is scheduled to begin against England due to a grade two right hip flexor tear.Olivier injured himself during South Africa’s tour against England Lions at The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence in Canterbury in Canterbury, where he scored 259 in the first game.
“Duanne was diagnosed with significant discomfort in the right hip flexor muscle after the end of the third day of the tour match that lasted for four days.After a thorough clinical evaluation, he was referred for an MRI scan, which showed a tear of grade 2 that involved the right pectineus muscles.”
“Due to the severity of the injury he was ruled out of the three-match Test series against England and will return to home where he will begin his recovery with the Gauteng Central Lions medical team,” said Dr Hashendra Ramjee, Proteas team doctor in an official statement.
South Africa have chosen to not announce the name of a replacement for Olivier during the tour of England.Since his return to the Test squad from the series against India in 2021-22, Olivier has picked 11 wickets with an average of 33.63 in five matches.
Olivier’s absence is an enormous blow to South Africa ahead of the first Test against England starting on the 17th of August at Lord’s.The hosts are worried about the fitness of the pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada who is in an uphill battle to heal from an injury to his ankle.
The ankle injury caused the injury to keep Rabada from playing in the of the third T20I against England and the two-match T20I series against Ireland.South Africa are already without Test vice-captain and right-handed batsman Temba Bavuma for this tour who has been recovering from an elbow injury suffered when he was playing captain of South Africa in their T20I tour of India in June.
Others who are seamers in the South Africa squad which captain Dean Elgar and head coach Mark Boucher can choose from are Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje (who last played in a test match in June 2021), Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, and Glenton Stuurman.
South Africa Test squad: Dean Elgar (captain), Sarel Erwee, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Khaya Zondo and Glenton Stuurman.
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