By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Proteas have been dealt a major blow ahead of the third ODI against Australia at the JB Marks Oval, as fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out due to a back injury.
The 29-year-old left the field after bowling five overs during the second ODI in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
He returned to bat during the chase but still requires further assessment and will undergo scans in Johannesburg on Monday.
Proteas will be waiting for the results of the scans because the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup begins in less than a month, with the Proteas’ first match against Sri Lanka scheduled for October 7 in Delhi.
South Africa are trailing Australia 0-2 in the five-match ODI series and will need to win the next match to keep the series alive.
South Africa ODI Squad for Australia Series: Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sisanda Magala (DP World Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), and Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).