JP joins Amla on injury list

JP DUMINY has joined Hashim Amla on the casualty list ahead of the Proteas’ limited-overs tour to Australia.

Amla was ruled out on Monday with a finger tendon injury and was given further time to recover ahead of a long season ahead. But now Duminy too has been forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury, which requires surgery.

“JP aggravated a pre-existing shoulder injury during the recently concluded series against Zimbabwe. The injury will require surgical management, thusruling him out of the immediate tour of Australia and the upcoming MSL. At the moment we can’t say how long he will be out for, that is dependent on the results from the surgery,” Proteas team doctor, Dr Mohammed Moosajee said.

Duminy will miss the upcoming Mzansi Super League, where he was installed as the marquee player for Cape Town Blitz. Proteas wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock will replace Duminy at the Newlands-based franchise.

Four years ago, Duminy was also ruled out of the ODI tour to Australia ahead of the 2015 World Cup with a knee injury.

With Duminy and Amla ruled out of the three ODIs and once-off T20, there is a further opportunity for convenor of selectors Linda Zondi and coach Ottis Gibson to have another look at the grou p of batsmen trialled during the recent Zimbabwe series in Australia.

Proteas Test opening pair Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram, along with Reeza Hendricks were utilised at the top of the order in the ODIs, while Gihahn Cloete also debuted in the T20 series.

Elgar failed to utilise his opportunities on difficult pitches in Kimberley and Bloemfontein, before Hendricks capitalised at Boland Park in the final ODI by adding a half-century to his maiden century on debut in Sri Lanka a couple of months ago.

Although David Miller is expected to come back into the ODI touring squad after being rested for the 50-overs leg of the Zimbabwe series, there could also be a place for Highveld Lions batsman Rassie van der Dussen on the plane Down Under. – Zaahier Adams