In a recent development, SA20 The Pretoria Capitals team took to time due to a back injury he suffered last year before the Cricket World Cup.
Anrich Nortje was absent from the South African team that made it all the way to the CWC semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Australia by 3 wickets at Eden Gardens. Although his absence did not cost him South Africa as much as bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen took the responsibility on their shoulders.
UPDATE 🚨
Capitals sailor Anrich Nortje will miss the second season of the #SA20, as he continues to recover from an injury. The Pretoria family wishes him a speedy recovery!#RoarSaamMore pic.twitter.com/pzUfipH5Fh
– Pretoria Capitals (@PretoriaCapsSA) January 9, 2024
The Proteas looked very lethal without Nortje, but could have become even more dangerous with him. His experience on Indian soil was perhaps the same as Rabada’s, having been a part of IPL for a long time. Anrich Nortje had to miss the first half of the IPL last season due to an injury and if he fails to complete his recovery, it will be a big doubt to also participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
A big coup for the Pretoria Capitals as Anrich Nortje was the joint highest wicket-taker last season
Anrich Nortje’s failure to recover from the stress fracture in his back will definitely hurt Pretoria Capitals as the tall South African was a key player in the team. His contribution was immense in the Capitals’ bid to reach the final of the inaugural SA20 last year before losing to Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 4 wickets in the final.
Nortje was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 20 wickets in 11 innings. He trailed Roelof Van Der Merwe only by a poor bowling average of 13.25 compared to Van Der Merwe’s 9.55.
In terms of the most impactful bowlers of SA20 Season 1, Anrich Nortje came fourth on the list with an Impact wickets average of 17.9. He helped the Pretoria Capitals finish on top of the points table with 32 points, including 7 wins and 3 losses.
His last international appearance for South Africa was on 9 September 2023, in the second of a 5-match home ODI series against Australia. Anrich Nortje has 144 international wickets across all formats since he debuted in March 2019 in an ODI against Sri Lanka.
Pretoria Capitals full squad after Anrich Nortje omission: Will Jacks, Shane Dadswell, Theunis de Bruyn, James Neesham, Senuran Muthusamy, Colin Ingram, Corbin Bosch, Adil Rashid, Eathan Bosch, Wayne Parnell (C), Migael Pretorius, Phil Salt, Rilee Rossouw, Paul Stirling, Kyle Verreynne, Matthew Boast, Daryn Dupavillon and Steve Stolk.
The SA20 begins tomorrow with Aiden Markram’s reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape taking on Faf Du Plessis’ Joburg Super Kings in the first match in Gqeberha.
