The Warriors are battling an injury crisis ahead of their Sunfoil Series clash against The Titans, with no fewer than five players in doubt for the match at Axxess St George’s.
Albie Morkel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Andrew Birch (ankle), Rusty Theron (side strain) and Christiaan Jonker (groin) all missed the draw with the Cape Cobras two weeks ago and are still struggling to regain fitness for Thursday. That list grew with the addition of Davy Jacobs (ankle) and Colin Ingram (calf) after the Cobras game, and so the hosts face a flurry of fitness tests before settling on a final XI.
On the positive side, Wayne Parnell is back from national duty, while batsman Colin Ackermann has been in excellent form for Eastern Province and is ready to step in should he be required. Ackermann is the second highest run-scorer in the CSA Provincial 3-Day Competition this season, with 500 runs at an average of 62.50.
South Western Districts wicketkeeper Brendon Louw is standing by for Jacobs, who has been disappointed with the nature of the wickets that the Warriors have played on in the process of drawing each of their three matches to date.
“I just think we’ve played on three really flat wickets,” he said. “Last season the wickets were going around and games lasted two or three days. Now it’s sort of gone the other way - it’s almost too flat so it’s been difficult to get results in the first three games. I’ll take a green mamba any day.”
In contrast to the Warriors, the Titans are strengthened by the return of Jacques Rudolph, who has not played since the early stages of the Momentum One-Day Cup when he suffered a fractured hand.
Albie Morkel will make his first appearance of the season after seeing the Titans’ game against the Sunfoil Dolphins abandoned without a ball bowled last week when heavy rain struck Durban, but Marchant de Lange is still struggling for full fitness and Farhaan Behardien is suspended.
“It’s been a little frustrating with the weather but that’s obviously something you can’t control,” captain Henry Davids said of the Titans’ season thus far. “Bar the first game against the Lions I think we’ve played some very nice cricket.
“We’re a win away from being in the mix. The Cobras are 15 points ahead of us so if we can get on the board then we’ll be amongst it.”
HEAD TO HEAD – Warriors vs. The Titans
Matches Played 18
Warriors Win 03
Titans Win 09
Draw 06
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
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