SA vs IND | 1st Test: Proteas clarify Duanne Olivier's exclusion, Marco Jansen's debut opportunity

The non-selection of Duanne Olivier sparked outrage on Twitter and the commentary box on the first day of the first Test against India but South Africa have clarified that the pacer was not considered due to the lingering effects of Covid-19 that he contracted last month and hamstring niggle.

When South Africa skipper Dean Elgar announced at the toss that the left-arm pacer Marco Jansen was to make his Test debut, there were speculations and criticism of the Proteas team for not opting for the pacer’s experience.

"Duanne Olivier is healthy and well, but did return a positive Covid-19 test result a number of weeks ago, which forced him to quarantine and took time away from his training ahead of the current Betway Test series against India," ESPNcricinfo quoted the convenor of selectors, Victor Mpitsang, as saying.

"This [Covid-19] did take place while he was away with the intention to spend time with his family and his workloads were not where the selection panel would have wanted them to be by the time he entered the team bubble ahead of the first Test match," Mpitsang added. "He picked up a hamstring niggle during the two-day, inter-squad match at the start of the camp and the selectors did not want to risk him unnecessarily when there are two more Test matches to think about."

The lack of experience showed up as Jansen could not deliver accurate spells of bowling on the first day and allowed Indian batsmen plenty of loose deliveries to score off. He produced some wicket-taking deliveries as well but lack of accuracy between good balls was remarkably evident and the Indian batting order was in full form to capitalize on his misery.

However, Mpitsang defended the selection of Jansen in the side and hinted that he was not brought into the playing XI only because of injury concern to Olivier. He said that the left-armer was a “standout performer” with the ball in the A series against India A earlier this month and deserved the opportunity to bowl to the star-studded Indian batting lineup.

"Statistically, Marco Jansen was the standout performer with the ball against India A in their recent tour to South Africa and the selectors backed him to take on the senior India team and do well," Mpitsang said. 

India motored along to 272/3 at the end of the first day’s play and Jansen failed to pick up even one wicket while conceding 61 runs from his 17-over long first day at the Test level.