South Africa’s Test captain Temba Bavuma’s return to action for the Lions in Johannesburg has been thwarted by a familiar nemesis: an elbow injury. The 34-year-old was due to join the Lions team on Tuesday after traveling from Cape Town, but he failed to arrive.
Reports suggest that the Lions were informed late on Wednesday of his withdrawal from the domestic first-class final, which is set to begin today.
The timing of Bavuma’s injury raises concerns, as it comes just two months before the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in June.
The exact nature and severity of the injury remain unclear, with the Lions yet to be informed whether it is the same elbow that has caused him trouble in the past. This uncertainty has left the team surprised by his last-minute withdrawal.
Earlier on Wednesday, Lions captain Dominic Hendricks had expressed his excitement about playing alongside Bavuma in what would have been a crucial encounter. However, the latest injury setback has dashed those hopes.
Bavuma’s history with elbow injuries is well-documented. The right-handed batter fractured his left elbow in 2022, forcing him to miss South Africa’s tour of England and leaving him sidelined for three months.
The same elbow was reinjured last year during an ODI against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, when Bavuma fell awkwardly while completing a single. This caused him to miss South Africa’s Tests against Bangladesh.
Despite these challenges, Bavuma made a stunning comeback, scoring two centuries in four Tests and a series of four fifty-plus scores against Sri Lanka. He also captained South Africa to the Champions Trophy semi-final, though his performances were often marked by heavy strapping on his elbow.
After the Champions Trophy, Bavuma has not played any competitive cricket, although he was present with the Lions for their final first-class league match in Bloemfontein last week, which was rained out. He then traveled to Cape Town and was expected to rejoin the team for the final against the Titans, but now news of his injury has emerged.
With the WTC final against defending champions Australia looming in just over eight weeks, South Africa is planning a series of practice matches from mid-May, including a game against international opposition in England. The final, scheduled for 11-15 June, will mark the second final of the tournament.
However, many players are currently involved in the 2025 IPL or playing in county cricket, meaning South Africa will not play any competitive cricket before then.
Bavuma’s absence from the domestic final is not just a setback for the Lions but also raises questions about his fitness ahead of the World Test Championship. With his injury history and the stakes of the WTC final, all eyes will be on the recovery of South Africa’s Test captain in the coming weeks.
