Hamstring injury and Covid-19 after effects prevented Duanne Olivier from playing 1st Test against India

Right arm pacer Duanne Olivier was not included in the South African playing XI for the 1st Test match against India at Centurion. And, the convenor of selectors, Victor Mpitsang has opened up on why Olivier missed out on a berth in the side for the 1st rubber.

Mpitsang said that Olivier is healthy and since the cricketer tested positive for Covid-19, he had to quarantine himself and could not get sufficient time to train for the first rubber.

“Duanne Olivier is healthy and well, but did return a positive Covid-19 test result a number of weeks ago, which forced him to quarantine and took time away from his training ahead of the current Betway Test series against India,” said Mpitsang according to ESPNCricinfo.

We did not want to risk playing Duanne Olivier unnecessarily: Victor Mpitsang

Victor Mpitsang also added that the Proteas did not want to unnecessarily risk playing Olivier in the first rubber, especially when there are two more matches to follow. Adding that Olivier tested positive for Covid-19 when he was with his family, Mpitsang concluded by stating that the pacer also picked up a niggle while playing an inter-squad game.

“This [Covid-19] did take place while he was away with the intention to spend time with his family and his workloads were not where the selection panel would have wanted them to be by the time he entered the team bubble ahead of the first Test match.

He picked up a hamstring niggle during the two-day, inter-squad match at the start of the camp and the selectors did not want to risk him unnecessarily when there are two more Test matches to think about,” concluded Mpitsang.

India ended Day 1 at a commanding position, with their scorecard reading 272/3. Rain has delayed the start of play on Day 2 of the 1st Test match.