Anrich Nortje ruled out of Australia Test series with groin injury

South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the third Test against Australia due to a mild groin injury. Nortje left the field after bowling 3.3 overs during the first innings of the second Test in Gqeberha and did not return.

Cricket South Africa confirmed the injury through scans and announced an otherwise unchanged 16-member squad for the decider at Newlands starting Tuesday. Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson are in contention to replace him if South Africa opt for a four-man pace attack.

Nortje had returned to Test cricket after more than three years in the first Test at Durban, where he took four wickets. The series stands level at 1-1.