Duminy doubtful for West Indies clash

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Sydney

WHAT’S more difficult than trying to beat West Indies without Vernon Philander and with a ban hanging over the head of captain AB de Villiers? Having to do so without JP Duminy.

Times Media learnt on Thursday that Duminy was set to undergo a fitness test on a side strain before the first ball was due to be bowled at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. The match was scheduled to start at 5.30am (SA time).

Philander has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while the slow over-rate SA were fined for in their match against India in Melbourne on Sunday means another infringement would see De Villiers banned for one match in the tournament.

Winning Friday’s game took on added importance for SA in the wake of their 130-run loss to India, their worst ever at a World Cup.

Not only will the points be important to SA on Friday, they will want to regain the confidence they lost in that match.

Duminy’s allround contribution will be missed if he has been forced out. He scored 115 not out in SA’s opening match of the tournament against Zimbabwe in Hamilton on February and bowled seven overs for a tidy 39 runs against India.

SA found out just how much they needed Duminy when he missed the one-day series in Australia in November. In his absence, the middle order struggled for stability and the Aussies won the rubber 4-1.

In experience terms, Duminy that only other player in SA’s squad besides De Villiers and Hashim Amla to have played more than 100 one-day internationals.

Duminy’s growing stature as a leader was acknowledged when he was named captain of SA’s T20 team for a series in November after Faf du Plessis was rested.