South Africa have taken the field in the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka without their captain Temba Bavuma – here’s why.
Bavuma’s last international appearance came against Ireland this month when he retired hurt in the second ODI, having suffered a recurring elbow injury. He didn’t play the third and final match of the series.
Cricket South Africa revealed that the muscle strain in his left triceps forced Bavuma out of the series opener against Bangladesh, with him travelling with the squad to Dhaka to continue his recovery under the close watch of the medical team. He is expected to be fit for the second match in Chattogram on October 29.
In Bavuma's absence, Aiden Markram is South Africa's stand-in captain.
Also read: How many wins do South Africa need to make the WTC final?
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Injuries continue to haunt Bavuma
Bavuma's injury is on the same elbow he had hurt during a T20I tour to India in 2022. Following that, he has suffered numerous injuries, including a hamstring niggle which put his participation in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final in doubt. He was ruled out of the Boxing Day Test against India last year due to a hamstring injury and didn’t feature in the New Zealand series later on in February 2024.
South Africa’s two-Test tour of West Indies is the only series he has played fully in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
With Bavuma out, South Africa have handed wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Breetzke his maiden Test cap. The visitors have picked two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Dane Piedt and two pacers in Wiaan Mulder and Kagiso Rabada, while Bangladesh's attack consists of three tweakers – Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam – and a fast bowler in Hasan Mahmud.
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