Faf doubtful, AB set for Tests vs Oz
MUMBAI: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, pace spearhead Dale Steyn and Temba Bavuma remain doubtful for the first Test against Australia starting March 1, whereas senior batsman AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock are expected to be fit.
According to Espncricinfo, Steyn is unlikely to be considered for selection till the third Test of the four-match series, but a call will be taken on captain Du Plessis and Bavuma before the opening Test.
INJURY WOES
Both Du Plessis and Bavuma are nursing fractured fingers, with the former missing most of the limited-overs series against India, which the visitors won 5-1.
South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee said, “We’ve obviously had a lot of senior guys out injured and it has had an effect. But we are sure AB and Quinton will be ready for the first Test and we are hopeful Faf will be too.”
“When he (Du Plessis) was diagnosed (on February 2), we knew he would require four to six weeks recovery time, which takes us, at the earliest, to the first week in March. So we have to take it on a week-by-week basis and see how he is progressing. The same with Temba, though he might be out for a week more than Faf,” he added.
STEYN’S FITNESS
Steyn’s fitness woes prolonged for South Africa when he failed to complete the first Test — his comeback game — against India, bowing out due to a heel injury.
Before his injury, the rightarm fast bowler had missed international cricket for more than one year due to a shoulder injury he had picked up on South Africa’s tour of Australia 2016.