Injury blow for South Africa: Temba Bavuma ruled out of 2nd Test against Bangladesh

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming second and final Test against Bangladesh, as he has not fully recovered from a left elbow injury. The right-hander has shown substantial progress, but he is not match-ready yet.

The Cricket South Africa (CSA) has on Friday (October 25) confirmed that Temba Bavuma won’t be fit in time for the second and final Test against Bangladesh, which is set to be held in Chattogram from October 29.

Temba Bavuma to miss second Test against Bangladesh due to injury

In Bavuma's absence, Aiden Markram will again step in as captain to lead the Proteas. South Africa climbed to fourth in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 rankings following a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Test on October 24 in Mirpur.

Chasing a target of 106, the Proteas side secured the win within 22 overs before lunch on the fourth day. Kagiso Rabada starred with an impressive nine-wicket haul, leading South Africa to their first Test win in the subcontinent in 15 games—a feat they last achieved against Sri Lanka in Galle back in 2014.

South Africa wins a Test match in Asia after a decade

After a decade and six different tours, South Africa has finally clinched their first Test victory in the subcontinent. For the current squad, this is a rare achievement, as none of the players had been part of a winning South African team in Asia before.

Only five players in the playing XI had previously played Tests in the subcontinent, and eight from the 15-man squad have toured Asia before, while none were members of the South Africa cricket team that last tasted success in Galle in 2014.

Aiden Markram describes the first Test win as "sepcial"

The stand-in captain Aiden Markram said at the post-match press conference, “It's special. We're a pretty young, slightly inexperienced group, so to come to the subcontinent and get a win is great for us and the environment. This win does a lot for us and gives us a taste of what playing cricket in the subcontinent is like, and it excites us for the challenges that we possibly face here.”

Markam further noted, “The biggest thing we take from it is the belief and the confidence that we actually can do well here as a team. I believe that's where a lot of the game is played, from a confidence and belief and a mental side of things. It will help the team a lot as far as moving forward and seeing if we can put back-to-back performances together goes.”

Bangladesh vs South Africa First Test Brief scores:

South Africa 308 (Kyle Verreynne 114, Wiaan Mulder 54; Taijul Islam 5/122) and 106/3 (Tony De Zorzi 41, Tristan Stubbs 30*; Taijul 3/43) defeated Bangladesh, who scored 106 (Mulder 3/22, Kagiso Rabada 3/26, Keshav Maharaj 3/34) and 307 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 97, Jaker Ali 58; Rabada 6/46), by 7 wickets