Lungi Ngidi has linked up with the South Africa team in Kolkata ahead of the second and final Test match of the series, which is scheduled to be played from November 22 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium.
Three days before the start of the series decider, Ngidi landed in Kolkata on Tuesday morning (18 November).
The right-arm pacer has not yet been officially included in the squad, but it is understood that this will be done in due course.
Ahead of the first Test in Kolkata, South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada was ruled out due to a rib injury sustained during the team’s first practice session at Eden Gardens.
In Rabada’s absence, Marco Jansen led a pace attack featuring the likes of Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder.
With uncertainty around Canada’s participation, Ngidi is likely to be added to the squad as bowling cover.
The 29-year-old pacer, who has played 20 Tests, was left out of the squad for the ongoing series against India. Before that, he also missed the tour of Pakistan.
His last appearance in the longest format came in June, when South Africa faced Australia at Lord’s in the World Test Championship final, which the Proteas won. Ngidi contributed three wickets in the match, including the important dismissal of Steve Smith in the second innings.
He was overlooked for the next two assignments due to his poor record in subcontinental conditions—just three wickets in three matches. Of those, one was in India, where he went wicketless.
As RevSportz first reported, Simon Harmer and Marco Jansen visited a local hospital in Kolkata for a series of tests.
There is little turnaround time between the two Tests, and with the participation of some first-choice players in doubt, Ngidi has been called up as backup.
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