Afg vs SA - Champions Trophy - Heinrich Klaasen misses Afghanistan game as precaution over left elbow injury

Afg vs SA – Champions Trophy – Heinrich Klaasen misses Afghanistan game as precaution over left elbow injury

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South Africa’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Karachi saw Heinrich Klaasen ruled out due to a left elbow injury, while Tristan Stubbs was likely not a first-choice contender. Despite this, South Africa maintained a strong batting lineup, including Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, and David Miller. Klaasen has been in exceptional form recently, scoring heavily in four ODIs against Pakistan, averaging 44.12 and striking at 117.44 overall. His high strike rate of 125.31 against spinners since 2020 makes him a crucial absence, especially with Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack. South Africa’s next match is against Australia on February 25.

Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs were absent from South Africa’s lineup for their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday afternoon. CSA reported that Klaasen was ruled out “as a precautionary measure due to a left elbow soft tissue injury.” Stubbs may not have been a first-choice selection regardless.

Despite this, South Africa, having won the toss and electing to have Afghanistan bowl first, fielded a strong batting order. The lineup featured Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi at the top, followed by Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, and David Miller in the middle order, with Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen filling the allrounder roles at seven and eight.

Klaasen’s absence is significant, especially given his recent form in ODIs. In four ODIs played over the past few months against Pakistan—one at home late last year and another in the tri-series leading up to the Champions Trophy—he scored 86 off 97 balls, 97 off 74 balls, 81 off 43 balls, and most recently, 87 off 56 balls.

On the whole, he boasts an average of 44.12 from 54 ODI innings, totaling 2074 runs, with a strike rate of 117.44. Notably, considering the venues for the Champions Trophy, Klaasen has a strike rate of 125.31 against spinners in ODIs since the beginning of 2020, averaging 57 runs per dismissal against this type of bowling.

Among 97 batters who have faced 500 or more balls of spin during this timeframe, Klaasen holds the highest strike rate, significantly surpassing the next best, Rohit Sharma’s 111.59. In this match against Afghanistan, South Africa is expected to encounter at least 20 overs of spin, with Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad serving as frontline bowlers, along with Mohammad Nabi contributing to the attack.

South Africa’s subsequent Champions Trophy match is scheduled against Australia on February 25 in Rawalpindi.

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