Cricket
Ngidi ruled out of ODI series against Australia─── ILSE SMALBERGER 09:45 Sat, 19 Sep 2026
Cricket South Africa has announced fast-bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Australia due to an injury.
He suffered a right hamstring injury in the domestic first-class season-opening game between the Titans and Dolphins last week. “Following scans conducted on Wednesday, he will undergo a period of rehabilitation,” said Cricket SA in a statement. The organisation said his availability for the subsequent Test series will be assessed closer to the start of the series.
His injury is a nightmare for South African selectors, with Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman also unavailable due to injury.
The 20-year-old youngster Nqobani Mokoena, who made his ODI debut for the Proteas during their recent tour to Namibia, has been called up to replace Ngidi. He has some international experience, having represented South Africa Under-19 and receiving his first call-up to the South African T20I squad in 2026.
Nqobani Mokoena. Photo: X/Proteas Men
Former Knights cricketer Gerald Coetzee has been called up to replace Rabada, while Duan Jansen will step in for Baartman. Coetzee last represented South Africa in an ODI in 2023 at the World Cup in India, while Jansen impressed during South Africa’s tour of Namibia earlier this month.
Gerald Coetzee. Photo: X/Proteas Men
Australia’s tour of South Africa will start on Thursday (24/9) with the first ODI in Durban. Two more ODI’s will be played in Johannesburg and Potchefstroom on Sunday (27/9) and Wednesday (30/9), respectively.
The ODI series will be followed by three test matches played in Durban (9–13 October), Gqeberha (18- 22 October) and Cape Town (27-31 October).
