South African emerging star Dewald Brevis out of ODI series with Pakistan, and that has caused concern among fans and selectors before the three-match 50-over competition.
The 21-year-old, who had been making headway as one of the brightest young cricketers in South Africa, had suffered a low-grade strain of the shoulder muscles in the last T20I of the PAK vs SA tour in Lahore.
As Cricket South Africa (CSA) notes, Brevis got the injury during fielding and will continue with the team, where he will receive rehabilitation under the care of the team’s medical staff.
His condition is not severe, but CSA has opted to put him on total rest during the ODI leg in order to have him fully recovered before South Africa’s next major tour in India.
Dewald Brevis out of ODI series, what’s next now?
Although the management of South Africa affirmed the withdrawal of Brevis after PAK vs SA, they have yet to appoint another replacement to the ODI squad.
This choice is a continuation of the selection puzzle, as the team is already shorthanded on some of its senior players due to injury, rotation, and workload management.
Form and Importance of Brevis to the Team
Dewald Brevis had displayed a tremendous shape in various formats before the setback, with his aggressive batting style drawing a comparison with AB de Villiers, especially in the T20 format.
However, in the ODI format, the youngster was still searching for his rhythm, with the Pakistan tour being viewed as one of the major
chances that the youngster would solidify his spot in the lineup. Leaving Dewald Brevis out of the ODI series has created a vacuum that might now need to be filled by one of South Africa’s emerging domestic talents.
ODI Plans of South Africa under threat
The PAK vs SA ODI series is also vital to both teams, as they continue to fine-tune their squads ahead of the ICC tournaments scheduled for next year. To South Africa, this loss is a reminder that they are still struggling with injuries to key players, a problem that has compromised the consistency of the squad throughout the season.
Regardless of being Dewald Brevis out of ODI series, the Proteas should count on the services of seasoned campaigners such as Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen to balance the batting order.
Conclusion
Moving Dewald Brevis out of the ODI series is admittedly a setback to South African ODI goals, but CSA officials still have hope that he will recover. It is reported that he will likely return in time to join the India tour later this month, provided his rehabilitation proceeds smoothly.
In the meantime, the emphasis is placed on how the Proteas are going to cope without him in the PAK vs SA ODI series, and whether any young debutant could take advantage of the sudden opportunity created by the departure of Dewald Brevis.
Amit Mishra’s Commentary
As a cricket enthusiast, it is disappointing to see Dewald Brevis out of the ODI series, as he is among the few youngsters who bring raw energy and excitement to the South African squad. I would have been really excited to see him play Pakistan’s bowling attack in the PAK vs SA series; his absence will certainly be missed in the field.
