Nqobani Mokoena called up to replace injured Lungi Ngidi

South Africa's fast bowling stocks have been rapidly depleting ahead of the series, with Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman also missing out.

Ngidi picked up a hamstring strain in the opening match of the domestic first-class season, playing for the Titans against the Dolphins.

He bowled sixteen overs in the game, picking up two wickets and conceding 55 runs across two innings.

The extent of the injury is still unknown. He will definitely miss the ODI series but his availability for the three Test series that follows is unknown.

Mokoena was one of the stars of the 2026 SA20 tournament and earned his first caps for the Proteas on the recently completed tour of Namibia, which included a T20I tri-series against the hosts and Zimbabwe, followed by three ODIs against Namibia.

The 20-year-old will add much-needed depth to the Proteas bowling lineup, which also includes Marco and Duan Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka.

He will have to acclimatise to the squad quickly, with the first ODI against Australia mere days away on 24 September.

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