SA vs AUS: South Africa’s injury woes deepen as Kwena Maphaka ruled out of ODI series

South Africa has suffered another blow ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Australia as Kwena Maphaka has been ruled out with a right hamstring strain. Maphaka joins a long list of South African pacers sidelined due to fitness issues, with Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman and Lungi Ngidi already on the injured list.

The selection committee has added Lizaad Williams as a replacement for Maphaka in South Africa's squad. The right-arm seamer has played eight ODIs in his career so far and scalped 16 wickets.

Williams will join an inexperienced fast-bowling unit depleted by injuries including Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Gerald Coetzee, who last played an ODI in November 2023. On the other hand, Duan Jansen and Nqobani Mokoena have four ODI caps between them.

Rabada was ruled out of the series even before the squad selection. However, Baartman and Ngidi were ruled out after being named in the 16-member squad and were replaced by Duan Jansen and Nqobani Mokoena, respectively.

South Africa sweat over Rabada's fitness

The team management continues to sweat over the availability of Rabada and Ngidi for the three-match Test series, beginning on October 9. The second Test begins in Gqeberha on October 18, and the third in Cape Town on October 27.

The three-match ODI series begins on September 24 with the first ODI set to be played in Durban, while the remaining two matches will be played on September 27 and 30 in Johannesburg and Potchefstroom.

South Africa’s updated squad for the ODI series against Australia: Temba Bavuma (capt), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Nqobani Mokoena, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams.