The pacer injures ankle during warm-up session; Kyle Abbott has been called up as replacement
South Africa suffered a big jolt ahead of the second Test match against India in Bangalore, after pacer Vernon Philander suffered an injury in the nets on Thursday.
Medium-pacer Kyle Abbott has been summoned to fill in for the injured Philander.
Philander injured his ankle during South Africa’s nets session at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Thursday, and has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the series.
The injured occurred during the team’s warm-up session.
Philander stepped on teammate Dean Elgar’s foot and twisted his ankle while playing a game of football during the team’s warm-up.
He looked in a lot of pain and was carried off the ground by the members of South African support staff, following which he underwent scans at the HosmatHospital in Bangalore.
“Vernon stepped on Dean's foot by accident in our warm-up. A very freakish accident...I've seen much worse before. He's very unlucky.
“He limped off the field and it might be nothing, it might be bad. We're all waiting in anticipation to find out what exactly happened,” senior batsman AB de Villiers said on Thursday.
Sources said that Philander will be ruled out for at least six weeks, which means he would miss the remaining three Tests.
Philander took three wickets in the first match and was expected to carry the burden of South Africa’s bowling attack in place of Dale Steyn, who is also expected to miss the second match.
Steyn did not bowl in India’s second innings in the first Test in Mohali after suffering a groin strain.
AB de Villiers claimed the fast bowler will undergo a fitness test, and judging by how he shapes up in practice in the next two days, a decision will be taken on his availability for the second match.
“He's doing a fitness test as we speak. So I'm not 100% sure. We are hoping for his return but we'll see how he goes today and tomorrow,” he said.
The big positive for the visitors would be the availability of Morne Morkel and J P Duminy, both of whom have recovered from their injuries and are available for selection for the next match.
South Africa will be keen to bounce back in the four-match series following their 108-run loss in the first Test in Mohali.
Image: South Africa's Vernon Philander looks on during a training session
Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
