Bavuma suffers calf strain in another in-match injury five weeks until they begin their World Test Championship campaign.
Concern for South Africa as Bavuma suffers calf strain.
Temba Bavuma will only bat if necessary because he strained his left calf while playing in the field during the third ODI against England. Although the extent of the injury is unknown, the niggle could raise concerns for South African cricket. They will start defending their World Test Championship crown in Pakistan in five weeks.
After straining his hamstring early in his innings at the World Test Championship final in June, this is Bavuma’s second in-match injury of the year. That time, he kept batting and joined Aiden Markram in a match-winning third-wicket partnership of 147 runs, scoring 66. But as he healed from the injury, he was unable to play in South Africa’s July Test matches in Zimbabwe.
“It is a little bit sore now. I will know properly when I get home,” Bavuma said, when asked about the seriousness of his injury.
Bavuma will also be concerned about the most recent loss as he prepares to lead South Africa in the 2027 home ODI World Cup. Bavuma will be 37 years old when the tournament takes place, and considering his injury history, he might not be well enough to compete. At the 2023 World Cup and later in the year during Test matches against India, Bavuma had a hamstring injury. He also bats with a lot of strapping and has a chronic elbow issue.
Wiaan Mulder, Bavuma’s replacement at No. 3, was out for a duck as South Africa fell to 72 all out and a record 342-run defeat in the third ODI while he was away.