South African pacer Nandre Burger has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against Ireland and the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh due to a lumbar stress reaction. The announcement was made by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday, shortly before the second ODI match in Abu Dhabi.
Burger experienced discomfort in his lower back, and subsequent medical scans revealed the injury. As a precautionary measure, he will return to South Africa for further assessment and rehabilitation.
While CSA has not yet confirmed a replacement for Burger in the third ODI, they have indicated that a replacement for the Tests against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place in Dhaka and Chattogram, will be announced in due course. The Proteas currently have several pace-bowling options available for the Tests, including Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Wiaan Mulder.
Injury Update on Tony de Zorzi
In a related development, top-order batter Tony de Zorzi will also miss the second ODI against Ireland due to a soft tissue injury to his right knee. The injury occurred during the first ODI when de Zorzi attempted to slide on the sandy outfield. MRI scans revealed the extent of the injury, prompting the team management to rest him as a precaution.
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Kyle Verreynne has been selected as de Zorzi’s replacement for the ongoing match. De Zorzi is expected to return as the opening partner for Aiden Markram during the Test series against Bangladesh. The middle-order lineup for the upcoming series is likely to include Tristan Stubbs, captain Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, and one of Ryan Rickelton or Verreynne, who also serves as the wicketkeeper.
South Africa’s Test Championship Aspirations
South Africa currently has six Tests remaining in the current cycle of the World Test Championship. Based on their mathematical calculations, the Proteas must win a minimum of five out of these six matches to have a chance of qualifying for the final at Lord’s, set to commence on June 11 next year.
As the team navigates these injury challenges, they remain focused on their goal of making a strong push for the World Test Championship final.
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