Nortje walks off with suspected groin injury in second Test

South Africa faced the prospect of being a bowler down for the remainder of the second Test against Australia, after Anrich Nortje limped off with a suspected right groin injury during the opening session of the fourth day in Gqeberha.

Nortje walked off three balls into his fourth over, and it was confirmed by Cricket South Africa at the start of the second session that he would not take the field again for at least the remainder of the first innings.

In Durban, Nortje bowled 40 overs in his first Test (and first-class match) in more than three and a half years. There were questions about whether he could back up with a short turnaround, but he had bowled with impressive pace during training two days out.

He had been a part of a sustained barrage by South Africa's quicks on the fourth morning in Gqeberha that rattled Australia's top order. He removed Marnus Labuschagne after Simon Harmer made a stunning catch at third slip, leaving Australia 45 for 4.

Kagiso Rabada returned in place of Keshav Maharaj in this match, giving South Africa the extra pace bowler over Kingsmead. They have also played all-rounder Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen, who took four wickets before lunch on the fourth day. The frontline spinner is Harmer.

South Africa could have the option of enforcing the follow-on if they bowl out Australia quickly enough, meaning the remaining bowlers would not have a break. Speaking after the third day's play, captain Temba Bavuma had braced his team for two days in the field in their bid to level the series. He reiterated that strategy prior to Wednesday's game.

He told Kayo Sports, "We obviously like the option of the follow-on, but we'll have to do well." "[The pitch] hasn't really broken up much, so spin might not be much of a factor as of yet. However, I believe that our bowlers will find something there with that new ball and the wind."

Nortje is the most recent South African to succumb to an injury. Rabada missed the start of the series with a hamstring strain while Lungi Ngidi has also been sidelined. Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka have hamstring problems. In the current South Africa squad, reserve pace bowlers Dane Paterson and Gerald Coetzee play.