Ngidi ruled out of Australia ODIs, Mokoena called up as South Africa's pace woes deepen
Synopsis
South Africa's pace attack has crumbled before a ball is bowled against Australia — Rabada, Ngidi, and Baartman all sidelined with hamstring injuries. With 20-year-old Mokoena rushed in and Marco Jansen thrust into the leadership role, the Proteas face their most disrupted home series in recent memory, and the Test series fitness bets are still very much open.
Key Takeaways
Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the three-match Dafabet ODI series against Australia with a right hamstring injury , confirmed by Cricket South Africa on 18 September 2026 .
Nqobani Mokoena , aged 20 , has been called up as Ngidi's replacement after his ODI debut against Namibia .
Ottneil Baartman was also ruled out of the ODIs with a left hamstring injury from the same domestic match; Duan Jansen replaced him.
Kagiso Rabada has been out since May 2026 (IPL) with a hamstring injury and is racing against time for the Test series.
Marco Jansen will lead the pace attack alongside Coetzee, Bosch, Maphaka, Duan Jansen, and Mokoena.
The ODI series begins on 24 September 2026 ; all three injured bowlers are targeting fitness for the subsequent Test series.
South Africa's pace bowling unit has been hit by a third successive injury setback ahead of their home series against Australia, with Lungi Ngidi confirmed ruled out of the three-match Dafabet ODI series due to a right hamstring injury, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Friday, 18 September 2026. The series opens on 24 September, leaving the Proteas with a drastically reshuffled pace attack.
How Ngidi Got Injured
Ngidi sustained the hamstring injury in his right leg during a Titans first-class fixture against the Dolphins. Scans conducted on Wednesday confirmed the extent of the damage, ruling him out of the upcoming ODIs and requiring a period of rehabilitation. His availability for the subsequent three-match Test series against Australia will be assessed closer to those contests, CSA said.
Mokoena Steps In
Nqobani Mokoena, a 20-year-old fast bowler, has been drafted into the squad as Ngidi's replacement. Mokoena made his ODI debut during South Africa's recent away series against Namibia, marking a swift elevation for the youngster into a high-profile bilateral series. The circumstances of his call-up, however, highlight the depth crisis the Proteas now face in their seam bowling ranks.
A Third Blow: Baartman and Rabada Also Out
Ngidi's injury compounds an already alarming situation for the Proteas. Ottneil Baartman was earlier ruled out of the ODI series after sustaining a left hamstring injury in the same Dolphins versus Titans match. Duan Jansen was brought in to replace him, with Baartman also targeting fitness ahead of the Test series.
Before that, Kagiso Rabada — South Africa's premier fast bowler — was ruled out of the ODI leg with a hamstring injury sustained during winter training. Rabada has not featured in competitive cricket since May 2026, when he last played in the IPL 2026, and is reportedly racing to be fit for the Test series against Australia.
Who Leads the Pace Attack Now
Marco Jansen is set to spearhead the South African pace attack in the ODIs, supported by Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka, Duan Jansen, and the newly added Mokoena. The absence of Rabada, Ngidi, and Baartman simultaneously underlines just how severely South Africa's first-choice fast bowling resources have been depleted ahead of a marquee home summer.
All three — Rabada, Baartman, and Ngidi — are targeting recovery in time for the Test series, though CSA has been deliberately cautious in its assessments, suggesting none is guaranteed to be fit even then. How well this makeshift attack performs in the ODIs could shape South Africa's momentum going into the longer format.
Point of View
But this cluster of identical injuries, all in the same fortnight, points to either an overly compressed domestic schedule or a gap in how player loads are managed across franchise and national programmes. The ODI series against Australia now doubles as a high-stakes audition for fringe bowlers — and for CSA's selectors, who must now decide how aggressively to risk the trio's Test returns.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Lungi Ngidi ruled out of the South Africa vs Australia ODI series?
Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the three-match Dafabet ODI series against Australia due to a right hamstring injury sustained during a Titans first-class match against the Dolphins. Scans on Wednesday confirmed he requires a rehabilitation period and will not be available for the series, which begins on 24 September 2026.
Who has replaced Ngidi in South Africa's ODI squad?
Twenty-year-old fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena has been called up to replace Ngidi. Mokoena made his ODI debut during South Africa's series against Namibia and is now set for a significantly bigger stage against Australia.
Will Ngidi be fit for the South Africa vs Australia Test series?
Cricket South Africa has said Ngidi's availability for the subsequent three-match Test series will be assessed closer to the start of those contests. No timeline or guarantee of fitness has been given.
How many South Africa fast bowlers are injured ahead of the Australia series?
Three first-choice fast bowlers have been ruled out of the ODI series — Kagiso Rabada (hamstring, out since May 2026), Ottneil Baartman (left hamstring), and Lungi Ngidi (right hamstring). All three are targeting returns for the Test series, but none is confirmed fit.
Who will lead South Africa's pace attack in the ODIs against Australia?
Marco Jansen is set to lead South Africa's pace attack in the ODIs, supported by Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka, Duan Jansen, and the newly called-up Nqobani Mokoena.
