Blow for the Proteas: Nortje Ruled Out of the Newlands Decider
South Africa's fast-bowling plans for the series decider have been dealt a late blow. Cricket South Africa confirmed on Saturday that Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the third Test against Australia at Newlands, Cape Town, after suffering a mild groin injury — and the hosts have opted against naming a replacement in the squad.
The three-match series is locked at 1-1 after South Africa's innings-and-31-run comeback win in Gqeberha, and the decider begins at Newlands on Tuesday, October 27.
How the injury happened
Nortje hurt himself while bowling in Australia's first innings at St George's Park on Wednesday. He left the field midway through his fourth over on the fourth morning and took no further part in the match, spending the rest of it in the dressing room. Scans on Thursday confirmed the extent of the problem, and CSA announced on Saturday that he would miss the decider. The length of his lay-off is not yet clear, though reports suggest the injury is less serious than initially feared.
The setback cuts short a hard-earned comeback. Nortje had not played red-ball cricket in more than three-and-a-half years before the series opener in Durban, where he bowled 40 overs and took two wickets in each innings. He had been expected to be rested for the second Test, but South Africa retained him after he came through the opener without trouble — a call captain Temba Bavuma later acknowledged was a "risk" given the pacer's injury history.
Who fills the gap?
With no replacement added, the choice comes from within the squad that has been together since the first Test. Gerald Coetzee, who has not played a Test in nearly two years, all-rounder Corbin Bosch and Cape Town local Dane Paterson are the seam options if South Africa stick with a four-pronged pace attack. If they prefer a slower option, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy comes into contention. The rest of the squad is unchanged.
The wider injury picture
South Africa are monitoring several other injured players ahead of a busy home summer. Lungi Ngidi, who hurt his hamstring in the opening round of the domestic first-class competition, is expected back in action next month and could feature against Bangladesh. Ottneil Baartman, who also injured his hamstring, returned for the Dolphins in the Pro20 competition on Friday and picked up 4 for 12 — a timely reminder of the depth waiting behind the first XI.
For now, though, the immediate question is Newlands. South Africa's attack carried them to a famous innings win without Nortje in Gqeberha; whether they can finish the job against Australia without him again is the story of Tuesday.
✅ Key takeaways
- Out: Anrich Nortje misses the Newlands decider with a mild groin injury sustained in Gqeberha.
- No replacement: CSA kept the squad as-is — Coetzee, Bosch and Paterson are the seam contenders.
- Comeback cut short: Nortje had returned to Test cricket after more than three-and-a-half years out.
- Decider: South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test, Newlands, Cape Town, from Tuesday October 27 — series 1-1.
South Africa squad for the 3rd Test: Temba Bavuma (capt), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.