Cricket South Africa dealt a significant blow to their World Cup campaign as they announced the unfortunate injuries sidelining two of their star fast bowlers, Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala, on Thursday.
Replacing the injured duo will be the versatile all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and the promising fast bowler Lizaad Williams.
Nortje's absence is particularly disheartening for South Africa's prospects, given his knack for delivering game-changing spells with blistering pace. As one of the fastest bowlers globally, often clocking speeds exceeding 150 km/h, Nortje's prowess earned him the coveted Cricketer of the Year award at CSA's July awards ceremony.
His World Cup journey, however, takes another unfortunate detour due to a suspected lower back stress fracture, forcing him to exit the field prematurely after bowling just five overs during South Africa's recent five-match series against Australia. Remarkably, this marks the second consecutive World Cup that Nortje will miss due to injury, having been sidelined by a broken right thumb during the 2019 tournament in England.
Meanwhile, the robustly built Magala, who also featured in only one game against Australia, has yet to fully recuperate from a lingering left knee injury.
In contrast, the 29-year-old Williams has limited international experience, having participated in just one one-day international match against Ireland in 2021. Nonetheless, he showcased his abilities in the recent Twenty20 international series against Australia.
Phehlukwayo, aged 27, offers a more seasoned presence with 76 one-day internationals under his belt. While he hasn't been a consistent member of the squad in the past two seasons, his inclusion in the lineup against Australia was prompted by Magala's injury.
These unfortunate injuries may force South Africa to rethink their World Cup tactics. Coach Rob Walter had initially emphasized the team's strength in fast bowling, aiming to have four high-quality fast bowlers available in most situations. However, the injuries have left Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi as the only experienced fast bowlers in the squad.
As South Africa prepares to depart for India on Saturday, they face the challenge of adapting their strategy to contend with the absence of Nortje and Magala.
Revised squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
