Australian cricket fans keen on seeing an enthralling series against South Africa have been dealt a blow with the news that Proteas skipper AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the tour.
De Villiers has been battling an elbow injury for some months now, and has decided to have surgery to have him fully fit for future tours.
Unfortunately for Australian fans, the recovery time for the operation is expected to be between eight and ten weeks, meaning de Villiers will miss the upcoming ODI series in South Africa against Australia as well as the three-Test series in Australia.
That Test series will include the Proteas’ first day-night Test, to be held in Adelaide starting on November 24.
“AB has failed to come through his fitness test this morning,” South Africa’s team manager, Mohammad Moosajee, said. “Although the physio strapped his elbow while he was batting and he did have some relief with some shots, the elbow pain has not gone away completely.
“This morning, he had a couple of throwdowns. The elbow was strapped and he had some symptom relief. He probably felt about 80 per cent better than without the strapping. But knowing AB, the complete cricketer that he is, he wants to make sure none of his shots are restricted. With that in mind, we decided on surgery and to give him adequate time to recover so he doesn’t hamper his career going forward.”
The news puts a major dampener on what was shaping up as a massive summer of cricket, with two day-night Tests against two of cricket’s premier sides, South Africa and Pakistan.
De Villiers has delivered a number of astounding performances in Australia, including a marathon 33 off 220 balls which helped the Proteas to a famous draw in the 2012 Adelaide Test and a blistering 162 not out off just 66 balls against the West Indies in last year’s Cricket World Cup.
With de Villiers out of the team, fellow batsman Faf du Plessis will lead the side on the ODI series and is expected to take the reins for the Test tour.
Nudge
Guest
Faf's scored 1055 runs against Australia Bush from 22 innings in one day cricket and test cricket with an average of a touch under 53. Thats good going
The Bush
Roar Guru
It was that Tri-Series in Zimbabwe you're thinking of Nudge. Look he's definitely a better ODI bat than a long form batsman, there's no doubt about it. Personally I've never subscribed to the belief that there are "big game" players or "clutch" players as the Yankees call them. Big game players are just players who always perform. The memories you have of clutch players is usually just blind luck on their behalf or simply evidence of what an amazing player they were (think the Bevans and Warnies of the world). Having said that I do think some players play better against certain opponents. Flintoff''s record is actually worse that Watto's in the key all-rounder stat of having your batting average higher than your bowling average, yet Flintoff will be a cult Ashes legend for destroying us twice. To have ended up with such average statistics he really can't have done a huge amount outside those series.
Nudge
Guest
Wouldn't underestimate Faf, Bush. He doesn't miss against Australia. Some players just lift in the big contests. I remember him not scoring a run for ages and then he came up against Australia and tore us apart in a one day series
Paul D
Roar Guru
Unfortunate about his elbow. Graeme Smith had a lot of problems with his when he was out here in 2008 I recall - Tendulkar had a lot of time out of the game with one as well. Given the workload and stress placed on the joint with bats and the game today it's not surprising he's taking time out to get it fixed. Damn shame for those of us looking forward to seeing him but that's life.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Send him to the salt mines Josef
The Bush
Roar Guru
So he's unfit for a series on November, but it'll be a "Lazarus like" resurrection for him to by fit by April? What's he having, a heart transplant?
The Bush
Roar Guru
Duminy has been a passenger his entire career. He reminds me of Greg Blewett, not quite up to test standard, though he's had a memorable knock or two, but thanks to being in a great team they could afford to carry him. Australia just has memories of him due one great summer years ago. Honestly, that's about all he's ever done. Faf is also overrated, he had one good score against New Zealand, surrounded by a pair of failures. He averaged 25.4 at home against England and he averaged 8.5 in India over the last year or so. He has a sub-40 FC average and that's playing domestically in South Africa... Again, he's only infamous for destroying us in one series.
sham
Guest
Will be a one sided series with Australia to win easily - like almost every summer. On the other hand we have the big bash and the A League.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Rabada is insanely good for a 21 year old. SA's pace attack will be extremely strong this summer, with Steyn back and firing, Rabada's 150kmh pace and Morkel's steepling bounce. Australia will hope that Philander plays ahead of Morkel or Rabada - he's not at all suited to Australian conditions. But SA's batting looks vulnerable without AB. Huge burden now on Amla to have a massive series, and on Faf and Duminy to step up after years of being relative passengers.
Nudge
Guest
Yeah Rabada, is going to be a superstar. There attack is going to be quicker than ours, if Steyn can still send them down in the high 130's range. Morne bowls over 140 and Rabada has been clocked at 150. Don't reckon Philander will play if those other 3 are fit, after his poor showing in Australia last time. Think the bowling is fairly even but we have the stronger batting
BurgyGreen
Guest
Steyn is past his best but still an all-time great. Tipping Rabada to be world-class (yes, as good as Hazlewood) and Morne or Philander are solid if not spectacular backups. Starc is gathering steam and looking ominous, Hazlewood is very good. Our third seamer (probably Bird) will be of comparable skill to Morkel and Philander. Their spin bowling is healthier than most people give them credit for - the incumbent, Dane Piedt, has done OK and they have a few backups. I do give us the edge with a younger attack in home conditions but it's definitely not one-sided.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Is Steyn as good as he once was? Is he as good as Starc? Who is his backup? Are they as good as Hazlewood? Lyon is a superior spinner. I think you might struggle to argue that SA's attack is as good as ours.
Annoyedofit
Guest
I'd argue Australia's attack is stronger due to the fact that they have Lyon to bowl spin. Can't say for certain who SA spinner will be
Josef Stalin
Guest
No doubt he will be available for IPL. A Lazarus like resurrection. If people reckon there should not be relegation and promotion in test cricket, this proves there should be. Because the system would punish the teams not pulling out the stops.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Australia will start as strong favourites now I'd think. The attacks are even (you could argue that either side has a slight edge) but the batting is very inexperienced. Assuming our batsmen recover their confidence after Sri Lanka, we look strong with the willow at home.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Very unfortunate, he would have propped up the RSA shakey batting making it an even series with both teams strong with ball but fragile in batting. Though the Aussie batting is very able in home comforts