South Africa’s Anrich Nortje, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the catch to dismiss England’s Jonny Bairstow during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between England and South Africa at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, Friday, June 21, 2024. AP/PTI
In 2024, South Africa managed to break their semi-final jinx by making it to the finals of the T20 World Cup and the World Test Championship. And even as another edition of SA20 continues to make headlines, with Champions Trophy around the corner South Africa are facing a massive headache. Fast bowling, which has been Proteas biggest strength over the years is suddenly looking thin with at least nine of their premier pacers down with injuries and doubtful for Champions Trophy.
Last week, news emerged that their star pacer Anrich Nortje, who is capable of clocking 150kmph consistently, will miss the Champions Trophy because of a back injury. And now, the latest blow is around Gerald Coetzee, who has been ruled out of the entire SA20 for Joburg Super Kings because of a hamstring injury. Though South Africa are hopeful that he will be fit for the Champions Trophy, it remains race against time for the pace to get fit.
“We actually did a count last night,” Albie Morkel, JSK’s assistant coach said after their loss to MI Cape Town. “Currently there’s about nine South African fast bowlers injured across all the teams, so it is a worrying thing. We are trying to find reasons why, maybe it’s the lack of cricket, I don’t know. We lost three big guys in Lizaad, Nandre, and Gerald recently, so it’s big for us and we have to juggle with the guys that we have.”
And it isn’t just these two, even Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams are out of SA20 because of lower back stress fracture and knee injury. Even Beuran Hendricks is out with injury and so is Wiaan Mulder.
Adding to the concern now is Lungi Ngidi, who after returning from an injury, missed Pearl Royals match against JSK on Monday. So far in the tournament, whenever he has played Ngidi’s pace has been a hot topic for debate with him clocking only mid 130kmph.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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