Proteas captain Temba Bavuma suffers elbow injury

Bavuma was called up for domestic duty for the Lions franchise, who are facing the Titans in the Cricket SA Four-Day Series final on Thursday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Lions captain Dominic Hendricks told the media on Wednesday morning that he was looking forward to playing alongside Bavuma in the domestic showpiece, indicating that he would be part of the XI. It would have been Bavuma's first outing for the Lions this season.

However, Bavuma's elbow niggle has reportedly flared up again and he's been forced to withdraw from the match. The Proteas star fractured his left elbow in 2022, then reinjured it in 2024 in Abu Dhabi. On both occasions, he was out of action for lengthy spells.

But the diminutive batter bounced back in fine style this past summer, notching up centuries against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in red ball cricket. Bavuma has been playing with heavy strapping on the joint.

The Proteas are set to face Australia in the World Test Championship final on June 11 at Lord's. 

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