While initially it did not look as serious as it was, after an assessment there has been found that a cut in JP Duminy’s hand will be enough to keep him from playing a further part in the Proteas’ chances of securing a hard earned subcontinent victory. His hand swelled up after he suffered a blow to his hand in the field, and he was seen to his injury after he had played a part in their victory against the deteriorating threat of India. The assessment revealed that while it was not enough to force him to fly home for treatment, he will have to undergo rehabilitation, and has been given a time frame of two to three weeks to recover.
“Duminy sustained a laceration to his right hand during the third ODI. Will need 2-3 weeks to recover”, CSA posted on Twitter.
“Dean Elgar to replace injured JP Duminy for last two ODI’s”.
Duminy will remain with his team-mates to give them input on how to continue with their dominance, and there is a goal to have him prove his fitness in time for the first test, which will be played on the 5th of November. There has been decided that he will be replaced by a fellow established player.
Dean Elgar will join the squad as soon as he can board aircraft from where he is busy playing his part in the Momentum One-Day cup.
While it is not that Elgar thrives under the pressure of the long and arduous task of the longest format of the game, where he is at home is in the highly-paid, short extravaganza of One-Dayers, and will provide much needed imputes from the solid base of walking out to the middle first.
On the basis of what he had achieved, and how he had played, he has a chance to make amends for the mistakes that led to his omission after only five matches on the job in 2012. Elgar knows the feel in the camp, and the pressure surrounding it, as he was called up to cover an injured Faf du Plessis when they played a weakened New Zealand side last month.
But that Elgar has consistently proven himself from time and time again with performances that have shown the quality of his peers, as in any other team he would have earned more opportunities is undoubted. That testifies the scrambling for places.
While he is unlikely to bat in his normal situation, he will have to show his prowess in circumstances that he has not seen in many times, and his handy off-spinners can come for use when he needs to hold up the game. And that he deserves his place, taken into account the unavailability of Duminy, will be seen. His future in the game hinges on if he pounces on his opportunity. And while Duminy won’t in all probability be dethroned, a successful stint will not do any harm for a confident Elgar.