SA Test skipper Bavuma suffers elbow injury ahead of WTC final

New Delhi, Apr 10: South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has sustained an elbow injury two months before the World Test Championship final.

Bavuma was expected to feature for the Lions against the Titans in the Cricket SA Four-Day Series first-class final, which begins at the Wanderers on Thursday. But he did not arrive in Johannesburg. The Lions found out late on Wednesday that Bavuma could not play the match because of the niggle, according to an ESPNcricinfo report.

Since the conclusion of the Champions Trophy, Bavuma has not participated in any competitive cricket. However, he was part of the Lions’ squad for last week’s match against the Knights in Bloemfontein, which was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Bavuma sustained a fractured left elbow in 2022, which led to his withdrawal from South Africa's tour to England that year and kept him sidelined for three months. He then re-injured the same elbow while completing a single against Ireland in an ODI in Abu Dhabi last year, causing him to miss South Africa's Test series against Bangladesh.

South Africa has just over eight weeks before the WTC final against Australia, which starts on June 11. They will not play any cricket before then, with several players involved at the IPL 2025 and others on the county circuit.

South Africa has qualified for the World Test Championship final for the first time. Having played 12 Tests in the cycle, South Africa boasts eight wins and a 69.44 point percentage.

Having started off the WTC cycle with a drawn series at home against India, followed by a clean sweep at the hands of New Zealand, the Proteas bounced back with impressive wins away from home against West Indies and Bangladesh, followed by dominant displays at home.