No Ngidi in South Africa’s squad
The big quick will have to prove his fitness at domestic level with the World Cup looming
THE ONE major absentee from the Proteas Test squad announced yesterday was Lungi Ngidi. The tall fast bowler has only just recovered from a knee injury and has been left to get himself into bowling form by playing in the Momentum One-Day Cup for the Titans.
Given the World Cup is getting ever closer, it is a sensible call for both the player and the squad. The demands on a body are completely different in Test cricket, as compared to a 50-over assignment.
“We never want to rush players back from injury because that can be counter-productive,” convener of selectors Linda Zondi said by way of explaining the gentle return to topflight action for Wiaan Mulder.
“For the same reason, we are not going to rush Lungi Ngidi back into international action until he has had the time to gain full match fitness.”
That strategy of allowing the player to hone his skills at a comfortable speed and then step it up with the Proteas once he has a few weeks of hard cricket under his belt also allows the domestic game to remain healthy.
The Titans, in the midst of one of their toughest seasons in years, will welcome the addition of Ngidi to their ranks. Added to the all-round skills of Chris Morris, Ngidi brings a considerable gloss to the attack and will relish the prospect of tearing in with white ball in hand.
As for the rest of the summer, Zondi and company will hope for no further injury disruptions. A long summer has been further complicated by niggles to key men, which has seen the World Cup blueprint put on hold again and again.
The Test series with Sri Lanka has its own importance and will be afforded the necessary respect, but you can be sure that the minds are ticking towards the ODI series that follows the Test matches in Durban and Port Elizabeth.
At that point, Zondi would love to have a full quota of fit players to choose from. JP Duminy is anticipated to be two weeks away from full fitness, and Ngidi will make his first strides out this weekend for the Titans.
There will be a lot of interest in how he holds up given his history of injuries, and the same scrutiny will be applied to Duminy. The ODI series against Pakistan was ultimately won but it emphasised just how vital both players are in the dynamic of the team. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, apparently.
Certainly, in the case of Ngidi and Duminy, their unique skills were fondly missed. The Tests will surely breeze past in a hurry before both Sri Lanka and their hosts get down to the urgent business of settling on their 15-man squads for the UK. In the meantime, the South African batsmen might look to the next few weeks as a perfect opportunity to fill their boots.
They have had series after series of tests of their bravery and their temperament. Now, as the shadows grow longer, they may finally have their fun in the sun.
The first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka starts at Kingsmead on Wednesday.