AUS vs SA | Kagiso Rabada set to miss ODI leg of Australia tour with ankle injury

South Africa received a big blow ahead of the start of the first ODI of the three-match series on Tuesday, with Kagiso Rabada being ruled out with an ankle inflammation. The pacer was last seen in action during the Proteas’ two-wicket loss to the home side in Cairns on Saturday, picking up 2/32 in his spell of four overs.

Rabada was sent for a scan on Monday, with the result indicating the extent of his injury and ultimately ruling him out of the ODI leg. Young left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka, who finished as the highest wicket-taker during the recently concluded T20I series against the Aussies, has been added to the squad in place of the experienced pacer.

Maphaka, though expensive, had a tally of nine wickets from three games at an average of 12.55 and a stunning strike rate of 7.33. Meanwhile, Rabada, who also featured in all the games, took five wickets as the Proteas lost a closely contested duel 2-1.

South Africa, who look to bounce back in the ODI leg after their heartbreak in the T20Is, will miss the services of their pace spearhead, who has 168 ODI wickets from 106 matches. Rabada has a decent record against the Aussies too, picking up 30 wickets from 15 innings at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 25.60.

After the first ODI at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns, the action will shift to the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay for the remaining two ODIs, to be played on August 22 and August 24, respectively.