Anrich Nortje will miss South Africa’s third and final Test against Australia on October 27-31 at Newlands, Cape Town, due to a slight right groin injury sustained during the Gqeberha Test. With the series tied at one, South Africa’s selectors have named a 16-man squad for the last match.
Anrich Nortje‘s first innings contribution in Gqeberha lasted only 3.3 overs before being forced to leave the field due to injury. He did not play again in that match, but South Africa’s remaining bowlers ensured that the hosts triumphed by an innings and 31 runs, tying the series.
If South Africa fields a four-man seam attack at Newlands, Anrich Nortje’s absence allows Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, or Dane Paterson to earn a position in the Cape Town XI. Furthermore, if conditions at Newlands allow for a change in the spin combination, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was left out of the Gqeberha Test because Simon Harmer was the sole spinner, is still available.
How does Anrich Nortje’s injury alter the speed possibilities open to South Africa?
Due to Anrich Nortje’s absence, Bosch, Coetzee, and Paterson—all members of captain Temba Bavuma’s squad—will comprise South Africa’s speed department at Newlands. The selection must be made before October 27th, as team management has not announced which of the three would be chosen.
Ryan Rickelton has taken the gloves at Gqeberha and moved down the batting order, while Kyle Verreynne, who was dropped for the second Test, has been retained in the squad as backup wicketkeeper. Because the team retains all of its batting and bowling options, the management has complete control over the final XI for the decider.
Nortje’s brief visit to Gqeberha left an impression. Simon Harmer caught Marnus Labuschagne at third slip in his 3.3 overs before leaving the field. He bowled 40 overs in the opening Test in Durban, his first Test outing in more than three and a half years following a lengthy injury layoff. This was a considerably more difficult workload.
What is the current situation of the series as we approach the Newlands final?
As both sides travel to Cape Town, the three-match series is deadlocked at one. From October 9 to 13, Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs.
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South Africa then tied the match with an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha. Both teams’ series victories on South African soil are on the line in the decider, which will be played at Newlands from October 27 to October 31.
Australia is against. South Africa in the third test:
Temba Bavuma (C), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham,Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Verreynne.
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