Proteas can’t afford any more injuries to bowlers ahead of crucial Pakistan Test series

Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remainder of the Proteas’ One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in the series against Pakistan after he suffered a groin injury during the warm-ups in the first match in Paarl on Tuesday, which Pakistan won by three wickets.

The injury has put in doubt his participation in South Africa’s all-important Test series against the same opposition after scans revealed a left adductor strain.

Maharaj joins all-rounder Wiaan Mulder in the 16-player Test squad who are injury concerns ahead of the series.

Among South Africa’s bowlers, Gerald Coetzee (groin), Lungi Ngidi (hip) and Nandre Burger (lower back fracture) are all out of action for the two-match series because of injuries.

There are two uncapped bowlers in South Africa’s Test squad, Titans quick Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka.

Bosch’s selection looks like one of head coach Shukri Conrad’s intuitive picks as he has a pretty ordinary first-class bowling average of 36.75.

Bosch does, however, possess extra pace, which is a bonus given the lack of an out-and-out quick with both Coetzee and Burger out.

Keshav Maharaj. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images / Getty Images)

Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Marco Jansen join Bosch as the fast bowlers in the squad — the same trio that did duty against Sri Lanka in their second Test win earlier this month.

Exciting 18-year-old Maphaka, who was called up as a replacement for Coetzee in the second Test against Sri Lanka, but did not play, is also in the squad. He should, therefore, be next in line if injury does befall one of SA’s pacers. Maphaka, though, is still wet behind the ears at red-ball cricket, having played only three first-class matches.

All-rounder Senuran Muthusamy is the spin option, with his left-arm orthodox bowling, and is expected to replace Maharaj should he not recover in time.

However, Muthusamy has played only four Test matches. If one of South Africa’s core pacers does get injured and Maharaj does not recover, Pakistan could face a severely depleted bowling attack.

South Africa need to take extra care to ensure the final few standing bowlers don’t also fall to injuries.

ODI concerns

The Test series against Pakistan is vitally important in the context of the Proteas’ World Test Championship (WTC) final aspirations.

South Africa need to win one of the two matches to seal their spot in the WTC final at Lord’s next year, but that will be extremely difficult without any first-choice bowlers.

Despite the concern around the fitness levels of the national side’s elite bowlers, Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter selected the country’s premier fast-bowler Rabada for the ODI squad against Pakistan.

Rabada played in the first ODI on Tuesday, where he bowled 10 overs and picked up two wickets for 48 runs. He was rested for the second match at Newlands on Thursday.

The match in Paarl was Rabada’s first ODI since the Cricket World Cup semifinal defeat against Australia in November last year. In between that time, South Africa played three ODI series: against India, Afghanistan and Ireland.

Walter’s record as the white-ball coach has been underwhelming thus far outside of World Cups. Despite reaching the final of a T20 World Cup and the final of a 50-over edition, he has only won four out of 16 bilateral series.

The side’s last ODI series win was against Ireland at the start of October, 13 months after their previous ODI series win. It’s understandable that Walter wants to strengthen his side and improve his record.

This bilateral series, though, has little context outside of a tune-up for the Champions Trophy in February next year.

There is, however, a short ODI tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand before the Champions Trophy in Pakistan for final preparations.

For the Test side’s sake, Rabada should not play in the final ODI against Pakistan at Pink Day on Sunday and Jansen, who has played very little cricket having recently come off a 12-week conditioning programme, should be looked after carefully. DM