The screws turned tighter on South Africa’s bid to stay in the running at the World T20 yesterday when JP Duminy was ruled out of their match against West Indies in Nagpur on Friday.
But how much tighter?
Duminy, who strained a hamstring while fielding during SA’s win over Afghanistan in Mumbai on Sunday, has faced only 38 balls in his six T20 innings against the Windies, scoring 33 runs with a best effort of 13.
He has sent down three overs of off-spin for 22 runs and has claimed a wicket that was not Chris Gayle’s.
None of Duminy’s T20s against the West Indians have been played in Asian conditions.
But the loss of Duminy is less about his modest record against West Indies than it is about the circumstances of Friday’s game.
The most pressing is that defeat for SA would likely take them out of the mix for a place in the semifinals.
Then there’s that fact that Nagpur offers enough turn to justify playing two spinners, even in a T20.
And Duminy snapped out of 17 innings in all formats without a half-century with an unbeaten 54 against England last Friday.
All of which is why SA coach Russell Domingo told reporters in Nagpur yesterday: “He is big player for us, especially at a venue where we know its going to spin. JP gives us the option of bowling four overs for us and his batting, too, is a loss.”
Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said it was hoped Duminy would be fit for the match against Sri Lanka on Monday.
Who might replace Duminy on Friday? Aaron Phangiso is not in Duminy’s class as a batsman but, besides first-choice spinner Imran Tahir, he is the only other slow bowler in the squad.
Picking Phangiso against the Win-dies, who beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Bangalore on Sunday despite Chris Gayle’s absence due to a hamstring problem, could dump the slow left-armer in the deep end.
Phangiso has not played in a competitive match since having his bowling action declared illegal and then cleared after being reported following a franchise match last month.
That he was cleared after being retested just 10 days after being banned was a surprise.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has made Phangiso a standard bearer for the cause of black African players, saying when his action was deemed illegal that “this should not serve as ammunition to those who continue to slow our transformation objectives”.
JP stumped out of West Indies tie
But how much tighter?
Duminy, who strained a hamstring while fielding during SA’s win over Afghanistan in Mumbai on Sunday, has faced only 38 balls in his six T20 innings against the Windies, scoring 33 runs with a best effort of 13.
He has sent down three overs of off-spin for 22 runs and has claimed a wicket that was not Chris Gayle’s.
None of Duminy’s T20s against the West Indians have been played in Asian conditions.
But the loss of Duminy is less about his modest record against West Indies than it is about the circumstances of Friday’s game.
The most pressing is that defeat for SA would likely take them out of the mix for a place in the semifinals.
Then there’s that fact that Nagpur offers enough turn to justify playing two spinners, even in a T20.
And Duminy snapped out of 17 innings in all formats without a half-century with an unbeaten 54 against England last Friday.
All of which is why SA coach Russell Domingo told reporters in Nagpur yesterday: “He is big player for us, especially at a venue where we know its going to spin. JP gives us the option of bowling four overs for us and his batting, too, is a loss.”
Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said it was hoped Duminy would be fit for the match against Sri Lanka on Monday.
Who might replace Duminy on Friday? Aaron Phangiso is not in Duminy’s class as a batsman but, besides first-choice spinner Imran Tahir, he is the only other slow bowler in the squad.
Picking Phangiso against the Win-dies, who beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Bangalore on Sunday despite Chris Gayle’s absence due to a hamstring problem, could dump the slow left-armer in the deep end.
Phangiso has not played in a competitive match since having his bowling action declared illegal and then cleared after being reported following a franchise match last month.
That he was cleared after being retested just 10 days after being banned was a surprise.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has made Phangiso a standard bearer for the cause of black African players, saying when his action was deemed illegal that “this should not serve as ammunition to those who continue to slow our transformation objectives”.
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