Lungi Ngidi Excluded from ODI Series Against Australia Due to Injury

Injury Forces Ngidi Out of ODI Series

New Delhi [India] - September 18: Lungi Ngidi, the right-arm fast bowler from South Africa, will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia due to a right hamstring injury.

The ODI series between South Africa and Australia is set to kick off on September 24 in Durban, with the second match scheduled for September 27 in Johannesburg, and the final game on September 30 in Potchefstroom, according to the ICC.

Ngidi felt discomfort during a domestic first-class match, prompting him to undergo scans that revealed the need for rehabilitation. This injury adds to the challenges for the South African team, which has already lost Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman to injuries.

In his last outing, Ngidi bowled eight overs in the first innings and 8.3 in the second for the Dolphins, which was less than his teammates Marco Jansen and Beyers Swanepoel, who bowled 26 and 20.3 overs, respectively.

His fitness for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against Australia, starting on October 9, will be evaluated as the series approaches.

To fill Ngidi's spot, South Africa has called up young pacer Nqobani Mokoena, who made his ODI debut in the recent series against Namibia, where he played in two matches and took one wicket.

Mokoena was playing for the Dolphins in a first-class match against Western Province, where he bowled 19 overs on the first day, achieving figures of 1/78. He has now been released from that match to join the national squad.

Updated South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs.