Duane Olivier was recovering from Covid-19 and suffered a mild hamstring strain after being ruled out for the first Test against India at SuperSport Park, according to South Africa’s selection coordinator Victor Mpitsang.
The 29-year-old’s non-selection was one of the big talk of the day on Sunday as India posted 272 for three, with KL Rahul scoring an unbeaten 122.
Olivier was South Africa’s home-season in-form bowler, taking 28 wickets at an average of 11.10 in four first-class matches leading up to the Test series.
India vs South Africa: full coverage , photos , the schedule , result
Along with his ability to intimidate batsmen with fast, short-pitched balls, Olivier was expected to play a key role in the Test team, especially after the country’s fastest bowler Enrique Nortje was ruled out of the series with a hip injury. after.
Olivier took 48 wickets in ten Tests before joining English county Yorkshire on a Kolpak contract in 2019.
With the end of the Kolpak system, he once again became available to South Africa.
There was no explanation for Olivier’s absence when the squad was announced, nor did Olivier indicate any possible impediment to his play when Cricket South Africa released a recording of the comments he made last Thursday.
But on Monday, Mpitsang was quoted as saying on the ESPNcricinfo website that illness and injury meant Olivier was unable to fully prepare for the first Test.
Read also: Wasim Jaffer is happy for India batsman who ‘stood tall’
“Duane Olivier is healthy and well, but several weeks ago a positive COVID-19 test result returned, which forced him to quarantine and take time off from his training,” Mpitsang told the website.
“His workload was not where the selection panel wanted him to enter the team bubble before the first Test match.
“He swallowed a hamstring during a two-day, inter-squad match at the start of the camp and the selectors didn’t want to risk him unnecessarily when there are two more Test matches to consider,” he said.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,