Tony de Zorzi ruled out of first Australia Test with hamstring injury
Tony de Zorzi is ruled out of the first Australia Test with a hamstring injury, opening a spot at No. 3 for South Africa.
South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi will miss the first Test against Australia at Kingsmead starting October 9 due to a hamstring injury sustained in the third ODI on September 30. The 17-Test batter was included in the preliminary squad but will not feature in the 15-member squad for the series opener.
Marques Ackerman could make his Test debut and bat at No. 3. Ackerman scored a double century for South Africa A against Bangladesh A in September. Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs are also competing for the position.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje returned to training at Kingsmead after missing the ODI series through injury.
CricHubb Take
The timing of de Zorzi’s injury forces South Africa to decide quickly whether to back Ackerman’s first-class form or fall back on the experience of Mulder and Stubbs in a series where batting stability will matter.