South Africa's Test Captain Bavuma Faces Elbow Injury Before WTC Final
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Synopsis
Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa's Test team, has suffered an elbow injury just two months before the World Test Championship final. His absence from the upcoming matches raises concerns for the team's preparation.
Key Takeaways
- Temba Bavuma sustains an elbow injury.
- Injury occurs two months before WTC final.
- South Africa has qualified for WTC final for the first time.
- Team has a successful record in the current cycle.
- Preparation time is limited before the final.
New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) South Africa's Test captain Temba Bavuma has experienced an elbow injury just two months prior to the World Test Championship final.
Bavuma was slated to play for the Lions against the Titans in the Cricket SA Four-Day Series first-class final starting at the Wanderers on Thursday. However, he did not arrive in Johannesburg. The Lions were informed late on Wednesday that Bavuma was unable to participate in the match due to this injury, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Since the end of the Champions Trophy, Bavuma has been absent from competitive cricket. Nevertheless, he was included in the Lions’ squad for last week’s match against the Knights in Bloemfontein, which was ultimately called off without any play.
Previously, Bavuma suffered a fractured left elbow in 2022, resulting in his withdrawal from South Africa's tour to England that year and a three-month hiatus from the game. He subsequently re-injured the same elbow while attempting a single against Ireland in an ODI match in Abu Dhabi last year, which led to him missing South Africa's Test series against Bangladesh.
South Africa has slightly over eight weeks to prepare for the WTC final against Australia, which is set to commence on June 11. The team will not engage in any matches before then, as several players are participating in the IPL 2025 while others are involved in county cricket.
This will be the first time South Africa has reached the World Test Championship final. In the current cycle, South Africa has played 12 Tests, achieving eight victories and maintaining a point percentage of 69.44.
The cycle began with a drawn series at home against India, followed by a clean sweep by New Zealand. The Proteas then made a strong comeback with remarkable away victories against West Indies and Bangladesh, in addition to dominating performances at home.
