Dean Elgar is all set to return to South Africa’s One-Day International side after three years, as he has been recalled for the three-match home series against Zimbabwe.
The Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed on Tuesday (September 25) that Elgar has been named as a replacement for Hashim Amla who has been ruled out of the series due to a finger injury.
CSA also said that the wicket-keeper batsman JP Duminy will lead the side in the home ODI series in the absence of regular skipper Faf du Plessis, who failed to recover from his shoulder injury. However, he is expected to get before the T20I series which follows the ODIs.
As per reports in News 18, South Africa Team Manager Mohammed Moosajee said, “Hashim sustained a tear to the tendon in his left fifth digit while fielding during the recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League. The CSA medical committee has also withdrawn Faf from the ODI series. He has not made a satisfactory recovery from his shoulder injury and has been given more time to make a complete recovery. We are hopeful he will be fit enough to return to lead the T20 side for the three-match series against Zimbabwe."
Meanwhile, Elgar has never managed to break into South Africa's limited-overs team since 2015 despite being an integral member of the Tests. He has only 98 runs in six ODIs so far. National Selection Panel convener Linda Zondi believes that Elgar's recent form and experience will help South Africa in the absence of their key players Amla and du Plessis against Zimbabwe.
Linda signed off by saying, “We have said that the Zimbabwe series is an opportunity to further explore our ODI options and the unfortunate injury to Hashim gives us an opportunity to see what Dean is capable of in the limited-overs format. He has always been on our radar having put in consistent performances both in South Africa and the UK, and brings a wealth of valuable experience to the batting group in Hashim and Faf’s absence.”
South Africa's ODI Squad against Zimbabwe: Dean Elgar, JP Duminy (c), Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Christiaan Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Willem Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Khaya Zondo.
