South Africa are still tinkering over the fitness of their key batting all rounder JP Duminy ahead of their opening Test against hosts India commencing at Mohali on November 5.
Duminy, who split the webbing on his right hand while going for a hard return catch in the third One-Day International of the five-game series at Rajkot on October 18.
The South African camp will take a call on Duminy’s fitness on November 1 when his bandage will be taken off.
He would not be playing in the (two-day) game here (at the Cricket Club of India against Board President’s XI commencing tomorrow). His chances of playing at Mohali are 50:50 at present.
Lerato Malekutu, South Africa Team Manager
The 31-year-old left-handed batsman and right arm off break bowler from Cape Town did not play in the last two ODIs at Chennai and Mumbai.
Duminy could not make a significant impact in the two Tests that he played in the previous tour to India in 2010. He failed to reach double figures in Kolkata and Nagpur.
However, his experience of playing on Indian wickets could be missed if he’s unable to play at Mohali. The other injured key player of the ODI and Test squad, fast bowler Morne Morkel is doing fine, said Malekutu.
The gangling pacer also picked up a leg injury in the same ODI at Rajkot and he too missed SA’s last two games of the series. Meanwhile, in a bid to shore up their batting against the spin threat posed by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the visitors have roped in former Australia batsman Michael Hussey as a batting consultant.
Hussey joined the squad in Mumbai on Wednesday and was present to guide the team members during the net session held at the Brabourne stadium on Thursday.
Michael Hussey will be with the team for a short period. He will be flying back home on November 3.
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