South Africa captain Temba Bavuma sustains elbow injury two months before WTC final

ANI April 10, 2025 146 views

South African Test captain Temba Bavuma has sustained another elbow injury, casting uncertainty over his participation in the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia. This latest setback continues a pattern of recurring elbow problems that have previously interrupted his international career. Despite making a strong comeback with impressive performances against Sri Lanka, Bavuma's fitness remains a critical concern for the national team. With just eight weeks remaining before the crucial Lord's final, Cricket South Africa will be working diligently to ensure his recovery and readiness.

"We're monitoring Temba's condition closely" - Cricket South Africa Management
Johannesburg, April 10: South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has suffered an elbow injury, which has prevented him from taking part in the domestic first-class final, which kicks off in Johannesburg on Thursday, according to a report on ESPN Cricinfo.

Key Points

1

Bavuma ruled out of domestic first-class final with recurring elbow issue

2

Injury raises concerns for World Test Championship preparation

3

Previous elbow injuries have disrupted his international career

4

Eight weeks remain before critical Lord's final against Australia

According to ESPNcricinfo, Bavuma was due to join up with the Lions team on Tuesday from Cape Town but failed to arrive in Johannesburg. The Lions discovered out late on Wednesday that Bavuma could not play the match because of the niggle.

Notably, Bavuma's latest injury comes two months before the World Test Championship final in June against the defending champions, Australia. The Lions are unaware of the extent or nature of Bavuma's injury. On Wednesday morning, Lions captain Dominic Hendricks expressed his excitement about playing with Bavuma in the marquee game.

This isn't the first instance of Bavuma sustaining an elbow injury. In 2022, he injured his left elbow, which forced him to sit on the sidelines and miss South Africa's tour of England. Last year, he injured the same elbow again after awkwardly falling while completing a single against Ireland in an ODI in Abu Dhabi. As a result, he missed South Africa's two Tests against Bangladesh.

After overcoming a phase plagued with injuries, Bavuma made a stellar return with two centuries in four Tests and four fifty-plus scores against Sri Lanka. He also led South Africa in the Champions Trophy semi-final last month but played with heavy strapping on his elbow.

Since India's triumph in the Champions Trophy, Bavuma has been absent from competitive cricket. Last week, he was present with the Lions for their final first-class league match in Bloemfontein, but the game was completely washed out by rain.

South Africa has just eight weeks left before appearing at the iconic Lord's to compete for the WTC mace against Australia in the final, beginning on June 11.

Reader Comments

J
James K.
Oh no! Bavuma has been in such great form lately. Really hope this isn't serious and he recovers in time for the WTC final. SA needs their captain at his best against Australia! 🙏
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Lerato M.
This is concerning - same elbow keeps troubling him. Maybe the medical team needs to look at a different treatment approach? Wishing him speedy recovery though!
R
Riya P.
Bavuma's resilience is incredible! Came back strong after previous injuries. Hope he gets proper rest and comes back even stronger for the final. #ProteaFire 🔥
T
Thomas W.
Not ideal timing at all. But 8 weeks should be enough recovery time if managed well. Fingers crossed it's just precautionary rest for now.
A
Amina S.
The way he's been playing through pain with strapping shows his dedication. True leader! But health comes first - hope CSA gives him proper time to heal.
D
David L.
While I admire Bavuma, I think SA needs to seriously consider having a backup captain ready. His injury record is becoming a pattern that could hurt the team in big matches.

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Tags:
Temba Bavuma South African Cricket World Test Championship Cricket Injury Australia Cricket
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