Temba Bavuma Shows Dedication in Intensive Training Despite Injury, gearing up for WC Semifinal against Australia
Admin Despite battling poor form and a hamstring injury, South African captain Temba Bavuma was hard at work training ahead of Thursday’s crucial ICC ODI World Cup 2023 semifinal match against Australia.
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While most of his teammates opted out of Monday’s optional practice session, Bavuma persevered through noticeable discomfort to put in a lengthy training session at Eden Gardens. With his right thigh strapped, Bavuma completed fitness drills, jogged laps around the field, and simulated running between wickets, gradually increasing his pace.
At times Bavuma appeared hampered by the injury, bending over to consult with team physio Sizwe Hadebe and strength coach Runeshan Moodley. After warming up for 15 minutes, he headed to the nets where he batted for around 30 minutes, initially with a single stump before using his bat to face bowlers.
Following the intense practice session, Bavuma left in a private car, likely for a medical scan. The team management offered no update on the severity of his injury.
Bavuma was sidelined for previous World Cup matches against England and Bangladesh, with Aiden Markram assuming the captaincy role. It’s believed Bavuma may have suffered the hamstring injury during the Afghanistan match, when he left the field early but forced himself to return to avoid a penalty despite clear discomfort. His movement was visibly hindered as he cautiously fielded at mid-off.
Bavuma’s batting has also faced scrutiny in the tournament, averaging just 20.71 through seven innings with a top score of 35. But his grit and determination in training indicates he wants to lead his team in the high-stakes semifinal despite the injury.
