Star South Africa bowler ruled out of Test series against India, no replacement named

South Africa’s in-form speedster Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the three-Test series starting December 26. Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced Nortje’s injury via Twitter on December 21. He has been ruled out due to a persistent injury. 

No replacement for Nortje has been brought in. Due to strict Covid-19 guidelines and plenty replacements available in the 21-man squad announced earlier, no further replacement has been named. 

In 2019, Nortje made his Test debut against Virat Kohli-led India in Pune. He has played 12 Tests so far and taken 47 wickets.

In Nortje's absence, Lungi Ngidi or Beuran Hendricks can walk into the playing eleven in the Boxing Day Test alongside Kagiso Rabada and comeback man Duanne Olivier. It is also possible that both Hendricks and Ngidi will play in the Centurion Test.  

South Africa Test squad:

Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier.

India’s tour of South Africa

26-30 December 21: 1st Test, SuperSport Park, Centurion
03-07 January 22: 2nd Test, Imperial Wanderers, Johannesburg
11-15 January 22: 3rd Test, Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town
19 January 22: 1st ODI, Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl
21 January 22: 2nd ODI, Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl
23 January 22: 3rd ODI, Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town