Cricket
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis back in training ahead of Australia Test series
Du Plessis missed the majority of the ODI and T20 series against India after picking up a fracture on his right index finger on February 1.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will begin training on Wednesday as he is in a race against time to regain full fitness after suffering a fracture earlier this month, Reuters News Agency reported.
Du Plessis seeks to improve his condition ahead of the four-match home test series against Australia starting on March 1.
However, after picking up a fracture to his right index finger in the first ODI against India on February 1, he remains a doubt for the series against Australia.
“He will start batting tomorrow and we are hopeful he will come through that and be available to captain the team for the first test against Australia,” team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a news release from on Tuesday.
“When he (du Plessis) was diagnosed [on February 2] we knew he would require four to six weeks recovery time, which takes us, at the earliest, to the first week in March. So we have to take it on a week-by-week basis and see how he is progressing. The same with Temba, though he might be out for a week more than Faf,” he added.
Bavuma and Steyn also in doubt
Two more South African key cricketers remain in doubt to feature in the first Test in Durban: Temba Bavuma and Dale Steyn.
Right handed batsman Bavuma is still recovering from a hand fractured suffered in the second Test against India on January 21.
He will be featured in a club game on Sunday and, if he shows no ill-effects, will be available for selection.
Right arm fast bowler Dale Steyn was ruled out of last month’s series against India after damaging a tissue on his left heel during the second day of the opening Test.
Steyn, who is two wickets shy of becoming South Africa’s most successful bowler in Tests, remains a serious doubt despite his return to training.
“He is doing his running training and also increasing his bowling intensity,” Moosajee said. “He will in all likelihood feature in the series against Australia, but the CSA medical team will want him to play some form of cricket before a test match.”