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David Miller and Lungi Ngidi have joined South Africa’s growing list injury concerns for the Champions Trophy.
David Miller (PC: Sportzpics)
David Miller and Lungi Ngidi have joined South Africa’s long list of Champions Trophy uncertainties after injury scares in the ongoing SA20.
Miller, a senior and crucial middle-order batter, seemed to have picked up an injury while fielding for Paarl Royals, the team he leads, against Durban’s Super Giants. Stationed at covers, he failed to stop a drive from Marcus Stoinis in the 14th over and had to leave the field soon after, accompanied by support staff.
According to ESPNcricnfo, he didn’t need to be helped off the field and up the stairs but walked gingerly. The Royals are yet to offer an official update on the seriousness of the injury but it can be expected soon after the match.
Meanwhile, pacer Lungi Ngidi was conspicuous by his absence in the Royals’ playing 11 for the match. It was the fourth straight match he missed in the competition and five of the total eight overall.
Ngidi missed a lot of cricket last summer due to a groin injury and has only recently returned to competitive action. On Saturday, Royals coach Trevor Penney suggested that the quick could return for the next match against Joburg Super Kings on the coming Thursday.
“With Lungi, we know big fast bowlers like him, they sometimes needed a couple of weeks to get back into that full flow and the rhythm,” Penney said. “It’s a tough thing for fast bowlers. He was out [with a groin injury] for like eight weeks. So he’s on a program where he’s almost back now. So we played him in the first few games so he could get some game time. And I’m sure when we go to the Highveld, he’s going to be straight back in.”
South Africa have already lost lead pacer Anrich Nortje from the Champions Trophy squad due to a back injury while Gerald Coetzee, who was the most likely to replace him, is out of the remainder of SA20 due to a hamstring issue.
Already, fast bowlers Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams, Daryn Dupavillon, Wiaan Mulder and Ottneil Baartman, among others, have dealt with or are facing wide-ranging injury issues in the last few months.
South Africa are yet to announce a replacement for Nortje but will have to do so by the February 11 deadline.