The South African cricket team suffered a blow on Tuesday when fast bowler Anrich Nortje was ruled out of the three-match Test series against India, which starts in Centurion on Sunday.
Cricket South Africa announced that Nortje had not recovered from an unspecified “persistent in-jury”.
Nortje, who is capable of bowling in excess of 150kmh, has taken 46 wickets in ten Tests since the start of the 2019/20 season, 16 more than any of his teammates. He was named South Africa’s cricketer of the year in May.
Nortje’s injury opens the door for Duanne Oliv-ier to return to the Test team after an absence of more than two years during which he played Eng-lish county cricket for Yorkshire as a Kolpak player.
With seven other fast bowlers in South Africa’s squad for the series, no replacement will be called up for Nortje.—APP
