Duminy Out Of Australia Tour After Rupturing Achilles

Duminy Out Of Australia Tour After Rupturing Achilles

JP Duminy (standing) may be out of action for around six months

©REUTERS / Action Images

Some of the gloss of South Africa's outstanding first day against Australia in Brisbane has been removed after it was confirmed that batsman JP Duminy has ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left foot.

The injury, suffered during a fitness drill in the warm-down, will leave him sidelined for anything up to six months and he is set to undergo surgery on Saturday morning (10th November).

Duminy had been uninvolved in the opening day's play thanks to the work of Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis in helping the Proteas close on 255 for two - after which bet365 made them 1/12 to claim a first-innings lead.

"At first assessment JP said he heard a loud clicking sound and it felt like he had been hit by an object," team manager Dr. Mohammed Moosajee said.

"The diagnosis of an Achilles’ tendon rupture was confirmed by the MRI scan this evening and he will undergo surgery to re-attach the tendon on Saturday morning.

"Injuries of this nature are caused by a sudden contraction against the direction of movement by the calf muscle as was the case during his sprint.

"We will only be able to gauge further down the line on an expected recovery date, but injuries of this nature have been known to take up to at least six months before the player can resume playing cricket. 

"He is obviously disappointed, but JP, being JP, is trying his best to stay positive, he says everything happens for a reason."

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have confirmed that Francois du Plessis will take Duminy's place on the field although as per the laws of the game he will be unable to bat.

They also confirmed that a replacement player will be named in due course.

Click here for Moosajee's reaction to the injury (mp3)

© Cricket World 2012