India vs South Africa | Duanne Olivier replaces injured Dale Steyn for Centurion Test
Cricket South Africa has included Duanne Olivier in the team to replace Dale Steyn, who picked up a heel injury during the Newlands Test, for the second Test in Centurion that begins on January 13. The SA selectors have also added uncapped 21-year-old Lungi Ngidi to their squad as well.
Steyn picked up a serious tissue damage to his left heel and left the field before Tea on the second day of the first Test and subsequently scans revealed that the extent of the damage was severe and that ruled him out for "4-6 weeks". As a result, the team management decided to give a chance to Olivier who made his debut during the series against Sri Lanka early last year and has played five Tests for South Africa so far. In those five Tests, the 25-year-old claimed 17 wickets at an average of 23.11.
"We had to replace Dale. I felt really sorry for him because he had done a lot of work to get back to where he was," South Africa coach Ottis Gibson said after the match, reported Cricbuzz.
Speaking of Oliver, Gibson added, "I've heard a lot of good things about him. I've seen him on TV but when I was at the Titans he wasn't playing. When we get to Pretoria for our preparation days he will be with us, and then we'll have a look at conditions and make a decision which XI will take the field."
On the other hand, Ngidi has played three T20Is against Sri Lanka in which he grabbed six wickets with an impressive economy rate of 5.50. But his muscle and back injury forced him to stay out of the squad as he took four months to recover.
Squad: Faf du Plessis(c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi
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