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Temba Bavuma Walks Off The Field Midway During ENG vs SA 3rd ODI As Injury Strikes Again

Jatin

Temba Bavuma left the field with calf strain [Source: AFP Photos]Temba Bavuma left the field with calf strain [Source: AFP Photos]

South African skipper Temba Bavuma just can’t seem to catch a break. In the third ODI against England, he hobbled off with a left calf strain while fielding, adding another chapter to his long list of injury troubles.

Temba Bavuma Suffers Calf Strain As Injury Concerns Mount

Temba Bavuma himself admitted he isn’t sure how bad the injury is. “It is a little bit sore now. I will know properly when I get home,” he said after the match.

For South African fans, that uncertainty is far from reassuring. Five weeks remain before they head to Pakistan for their WTC defence and the team will be desperate to have their captain fully fit.

This isn’t the first time Bavuma has limped off mid-match. Earlier this year, in the WTC final, he strained his hamstring early in his innings. On that occasion, he soldiered on to make a crucial 66 in a match-winning stand with Aiden Markram. But the injury ruled him out of the July Tests in Zimbabwe.

His career has been peppered with these setbacks: a hamstring issue at the 2023 World Cup, another one against India later that year and a long-standing elbow injury that still forces him to bat with heavy strapping.

Workload Management Gone Wrong

Ironically, Bavuma was meant to have his workload managed in this series. After easing back into action during the ODIs against Australia last month, he was supposed to take a lighter schedule. Instead, he played two out of the three matches against England. And now, South Africa may pay the price.

The bigger worry is long-term. Bavuma, who will be 37 at the time of the 2027 home ODI World Cup, has spoken about leading South Africa into that tournament. But with calf strains, hamstring pulls and elbow issues piling up, questions will be asked about whether his body can hold up.

Team Collapse Adds Salt To Wound

Without their skipper, South Africa looked like a ship without a rudder. Wiaan Mulder, who slotted in at No.3, fell for a duck and the rest of the side crumbled to 72 all out. The result? A crushing 342-run defeat, their heaviest ODI loss on record.