Nortje ruled out of Test series decider with groin injury
The Durban Test was Anrich Nortje's first Test match appearance in more than three-and-a-half years • Gallo Images/Getty Images
Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of South Africa's third and final Test against Australia after suffering a mild groin injury. No replacement has been named for the decider, with the series locked at 1-1.
Nortje left the field midway through in his fourth over on the fourth morning in the second Test at St George's Park and spent the rest of the match in the dressing room to put a premature end to his return to the longest format.
He had not played a red-ball match in more than three-and-a-half years before the first Test of the series in Durban, and bowled 40 overs in that match, picking up two wickets in either innings.
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It was expected that he would be rested for the second Test in Gqeberha, but after he came through the first Test without a problem, South Africa decided to name him in the XI again. Captain Temba Bavuma later conceded that it had been a "risk", given Nortje's injury history, which has previously seen him sidelined for long periods of time.
It is not yet clear how much time he will need to recover but Cricinfo understands that the injury is not as severe as was initially feared.
In the immediate term, South Africa will need to choose between Gerald Coetzee, who has not played a Test in nearly two years, allrounder Corbin Bosch and Cape Town local Dane Paterson to complete their attack for the final Test. All three have been with the squad since the first match.
If they opt for a slower bowler instead, left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy could come into the conversation. The rest of the squad remains unchanged, with South Africa expected to field the same batting line-up as in Gqeberha.
South Africa are also waiting on the fitness of several other injured players, all of whom are in contention for a spot in a busy summer.
Lungi Ngidi, who suffered a hamstring problem during the opening round of the domestic first-class competition, is expected to make a return sometime next month and could feature in the Bangladesh series, while Ottneil Baartman, who also injured his hamstring in the season-opener, made his return for Dolphins in the Pro20 competition on Friday and took 4 for 12. There is no word on 20-year-old left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka or batter Tony de Zorzi, who injured his hamstring in the third ODI against Australia last month.
The third Test starts on Tuesday.
Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo's senior correspondent for Africa and women's cricket
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