South Africa duo Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala’s World Cup likelihood is hanging within the steadiness after each of them suffered accidents just some days earlier than the beginning of the marquee occasion. The thirteenth version of the ICC ODI World Cup is scheduled to start out on October 5 and each the gamers are in a race in opposition to time to be match for the occasion.
Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala will bear health checks this week to find out their availability for the event. Earlier this month, each of them have been named in South Africa’s preliminary 15-member squad for the event. Nevertheless, they might play in just one match of the five-ODI collection in opposition to Australia as a consequence of accidents.
Whereas Anrich Nortje suffered a lower-back damage, Magala is down with a left knee damage. The Proteas will take a closing name on the pacers’ availability for the World Cup earlier than leaving for India on September 23. Whereas they’re nonetheless in competition to play the World Cup, their probabilities will not be wanting very vibrant in the intervening time.
“We’re frequently taking inventory as to the place each of these gamers are,” Rob Walter, South Africa’s white-ball coach mentioned after the fifth ODI in opposition to Australia.
“The truth that they weren’t enjoying at present with every week to go earlier than we board the airplane for the World Cup is clearly a trigger for concern. We’d have needed them on the market. There are problems round taking gamers which are injured right into a World Cup as a result of then you must present a medical cause to be swapped out,” he added.
Anrich Nortje’s absence to be a giant blow for South Africa:
In case Anrich Nortje fails to get well from the lower-back damage, will probably be an enormous blow for South Africa who’re eyeing their first-ever World Cup title. The pacer will not be solely top-of-the-line quick bowlers on the earth but in addition has ample expertise bowling in India because of his stint within the IPL the place he performs for Delhi Capitals.
He was rested for the T20I collection in opposition to Australia and missed the primary ODI too earlier than returning to motion within the second sport. Nevertheless, he may bowl solely 5 earlier than strolling off the sphere and didn’t play within the remaining three video games. Anrich Nortje was as a consequence of start bowling once more with the teaching workers this weekend.
Magala can also be wanting extremely uncertain for the World Cup. The pacer was sidelined since early April after splitting the webbing in his hand on the IPL. He was then dominated out of the T20I collection in opposition to Australia as a result of knee damage earlier than enjoying within the third ODI the place he bowled solely 4 overs and skilled ache in his knee once more.
With Anrich Nortje and Magala wanting uncertain for the World Cup, Andile Phehlukwayo is in competition to be added to the South Africa squad regardless of dropping his nationwide contract earlier this yr. The allrounder performed within the second and fifth ODIs in opposition to Australia.
“Andile is considered one of a few guys who’re a part of a broader squad and at present he confirmed us, particularly with the bat, what we have now seen by way of his functionality,” Walter mentioned.
“That knock, you possibly can have a look at it, and say it was match influencing. A complete of 270 seems to be totally different to a complete of 315 and he was a large role-player in that. He took an essential wicket with the ball as nicely. I’m very glad that Andile was capable of ship that efficiency at present,” he added.
South Africa are scheduled to open their marketing campaign within the World Cup on October 7 in opposition to Sri Lanka in Delhi.
