South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of action indefinitely after suffering a stress reaction in his back, marking yet another setback in his injury-riddled career. The news was confirmed by head coach Shukri Conrad, who expressed deep concern over Nortje’s recurring health issues but reiterated that the 31-year-old will be given every opportunity to make a return.
Nortje’s name was notably absent from South Africa’s T20I squad for the upcoming tri-nation series in Zimbabwe, which also features New Zealand. He has also missed out on international fixtures and franchise opportunities, including the Major League Cricket (MLC) season in the United States, despite being signed with the Los Angeles Knight Riders. His only appearances in 2025 so far came during the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played two matches for Kolkata Knight Riders.
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Conrad acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Nortje’s return and the seriousness of the latest injury. “Naturally we are worried. In Anrich’s case, this is the second or third stress reaction in his back,” he said. “It is too early to make a diagnosis, and we are definitely not drawing a line through his name. He is a superstar fast bowler, and dealing with setback after setback cannot be easy. We are going to give him every chance to come back.”
The coach also confirmed that Cricket South Africa’s medical team will assess the extent of the injury to determine the best course of treatment. However, no timeline has been provided, and it remains unclear which formats Nortje may return to upon recovery.
Nortje’s injury history is extensive. In addition to missing the ICC Champions Trophy and South Africa’s ICC World Test Championship triumph, he has endured long spells away from cricket due to toe, hip, and back injuries, including lengthy absences between 2013–2015, 2018–2019, and 2021–2022.
Meanwhile, South Africa have named a new-look T20I squad for the tri-series in Zimbabwe, with Rassie van der Dussen appointed as captain. The squad includes four uncapped players: Corbin Bosch, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, and Senuran Muthusamy. The call-ups are based on strong recent domestic performances, particularly in the SA20 league where Pretorius was the leading run-scorer and Hermann also impressed.
The team will convene in Pretoria on July 9 for a preparatory camp before heading to Harare on July 11. The tri-series begins on July 14, with South Africa facing hosts Zimbabwe in the opener.
South Africa T20I Squad:
Rassie van der Dussen (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane.
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