South Africa's cricket team has encountered a significant setback in the lead-up to the third ODI against Australia. The star fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, has been sidelined due to a troublesome back injury. Nortje's troubles began during the second match of the ongoing ODI series against Australia, where he had to leave the field after just five overs due to lower back spasms. Although he did return to the field later, further medical assessment is required to gauge the extent of his injury. As part of this evaluation, the 29-year-old will undergo scans in Johannesburg on Monday, rendering him unavailable for the third ODI scheduled for September 12.
The timing of Nortje's injury is especially concerning for South Africa, as the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is less than a month away. Their opening match against Sri Lanka is slated for October 7 in Delhi. South Africa currently trails Australia 0-2 in the five-match ODI series, which puts them in a challenging position. To keep their hopes alive in the series, they must secure a victory in the upcoming match.
With only three One-Day Internationals remaining, South Africa faces an uphill battle and must string together consecutive wins to secure the series. In contrast, a victory in the next game, to be held at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom, would give Mitchell Marsh's Australian side an insurmountable series lead.
After completing the five-match ODI series, South Africa will shift their focus to the impending ICC event in India. Prior to commencing their World Cup campaign, the Proteas have scheduled two warm-up matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand on September 29 and October 2, respectively. These preparations will culminate in their crucial clash against Sri Lanka on October 7.
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