South Africa dealt with a heavy blow ahead of the World Test Championship Final

South Africa’s Test captain Temba Bavuma has suffered a fresh injury setback just two months before the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. Bavuma was set to feature in the domestic four-day final for the Lions in Johannesburg this week. However, he pulled out at the last moment due to a left elbow injury.

Bavuma misses key match with elbow issue

Bavuma was expected to rejoin the Lions squad from Cape Town on Tuesday. But he never made it to Johannesburg. The team found out late on Wednesday that he would not take part in the final against the Titans due to the elbow niggle.

This injury comes at a crucial time. South Africa will face Australia in the WTC final starting June 11. Bavuma’s fitness remains a major concern with only eight weeks left for the historic clash.

Recurring injury raises alarm ahead of WTC final

ESPNcricinfo confirmed that Bavuma has injured his left elbow — the same joint that troubled him in the past. The Lions team management did not expect the late withdrawal and remain unsure about the severity of the injury.

Earlier in 2022, Bavuma fractured the same elbow, ruling him out of South Africa’s tour to England. The injury kept him out of action for three months. He hurt the elbow again in 2023 during an ODI against Ireland in Abu Dhabi. That injury forced him to miss the Bangladesh Test series.

Bavuma has dealt with several injury setbacks over the last two years, including hamstring problems. Despite that, he bounced back strongly in late 2024 with two Test centuries and consistent scores against Sri Lanka.

No competitive match since Champions Trophy

Since leading South Africa to the Champions Trophy semi-final, Bavuma has not played any competitive cricket. He last appeared with the Lions squad during a rain-hit match in Bloemfontein last week. That game was washed out.

He then traveled to Cape Town and was scheduled to return for the domestic final. However, news of his latest elbow injury surfaced just before the game. His absence came as a surprise to Lions captain Dominic Hendricks, who had earlier expressed excitement about playing alongside Bavuma in the final.

South Africa’s preparation for WTC final

South Africa plan to begin WTC final preparations in mid-May. They will play a few practice matches, including one against an international team in England. Bavuma’s participation in those warm-ups now depends on his recovery.

While many South African players are active in the IPL 2025 or on the county circuit, Bavuma has no overseas commitments. The domestic final was supposed to be his last match of the season. This new injury has disrupted those plans.

Bavuma remains on Cricket South Africa’s central contract list and is expected to lead the team at The Oval in June. But this fresh injury cloud may force selectors to consider backup leadership options in case his recovery takes longer than expected.

What lies ahead for Bavuma?

Cricket South Africa has yet to release an official statement on the injury. The team medical staff will assess Bavuma in the coming days. With the WTC final fast approaching, Bavuma must recover quickly if he hopes to lead his side in the biggest Test match of his career.

His return to fitness will be closely monitored by fans, selectors, and coaching staff alike. South Africa will be desperate to have their captain and top-order mainstay fully fit for the battle against Australia.

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