October 11, 2024: South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the team’s opening Test against Bangladesh due to a muscle strain in his left triceps. Scans confirmed the injury, prompting the team to appoint Aiden Markram as the stand-in captain for the first Test.
A statement from Cricket South Africa indicated that Bavuma will travel with the squad to Dhaka on Tuesday and continue his recovery under the supervision of the Proteas medical team, preparing for the second Test.
This injury is not Bavuma’s first setback recently; on October 6, he was also ruled out of the third ODI against Ireland due to an elbow injury. During the second ODI, he had to retire hurt and did not take the field, leading to Rassie van der Dussen taking over the captaincy in Bavuma’s absence, while Markram was rested for the entire ODI series.
South Africa faces additional injury concerns as left-arm seamer Nandre Burger has been ruled out for the entire tour after suffering a lumbar stress reaction during the ODI series against Ireland.
In light of these injuries, Dewald Brevis and Lungi Ngidi have been included in the squad. Ngidi had an impressive performance in the ODIs against Ireland, taking four wickets in the first two matches, and is expected to strengthen the pace attack alongside Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Wiaan Mulder. Brevis is set to make his Test debut.
The two-match Test series against Bangladesh will commence on October 21 at Sher-e-Bangla in Dhaka, followed by the second Test starting on October 29 in Chittagong.
South Africa Squad for the Bangladesh Test Series:
- Temba Bavuma (capt)
- David Bedingham
- Matthew Breetzke
- Dewald Brevis
- Tony de Zorzi
- Keshav Maharaj
- Aiden Markram (capt for first Test)
- Wiaan Mulder
- Senuran Muthusamy
- Lungi Ngidi
- Dane Paterson
- Dane Piedt
- Kagiso Rabada
- Tristan Stubbs
- Ryan Rickelton (wk)
- Kyle Verreynne (wk)
As South Africa prepares for this crucial series, the team will aim to overcome these challenges and perform effectively in the absence of their captain.
