South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi has confirmed that he is fit and will play in their next game against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC World Cup at Edgbaston on Wednesday (June 19). Despite losing consecutive games, they were dealing with the injuries as well where their one of the key bowlers Lungi Ngidi was ruled out for a couple of games.
Ngidi impressed with the ball in the first two games of the tournament which included a three-wicket haul against England before he started suffering a hamstring injury.
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“It’s been tough. Injuries are never nice, but with the support staff that I’ve had around me it’s been pretty good and I’ve been alright,” Ngidi said. “It’s just been frustrating not being able to play,” he added.
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“I’ve just finished a fitness test today and passed that, so I’m match-fit ready. It’s 100 per cent. That’s how the fitness test goes and if you’re not bowling at 100 per cent then you’re not ready to play,” he further said.
South Africa have registered only one win against Afghanistan in their five games so far and they have a herculean task ahead to stay alive in the tournament. They will have to face New Zealand first, who are unbeaten so far in the tournament. However, Ngidi’s inclusion will give South Africa more strength in the bowling unit. He shared that the middle order needs to take more responsibilities.
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“I don’t think their middle and lower order have been tested enough,” he later added. “They have got the bulk of their runs at the top of the order, so if we can get one or two maybe we can test them. I think then you could be looking at a different situation with their batting,” he concluded.