No special treatment for injured Bavuma: coach

KOLKATA - South Africa coach Rob Walter said on Tuesday that injured Temba Bavuma will not receive preferential treatment because he is the team captain.

The 33-year-old batsman hopes to be fit for the World Cup semi-final against Australia in Kolkata on Thursday after straining his right hamstring against Afghanistan last Friday.

"No one is bigger than the team at the end of the day. That applies to Temba and everyone else," said Walter after a practice session in the Indian city.

"Being skipper will not give Bavuma extra protection if the injury does not heal sufficiently and inhibits his play."

Bavuma took part in a floodlit training session at Eden Gardens on Tuesday and did not show any signs of discomfort.

But Walter warned that there are still hurdles the skipper must clear before he can lead South Africa into a match that will decide who faces India or New Zealand in the final.

"We still need to check him out in the high-speed zones as we progress from when the injury happened to the rehabilitation that has taken place during the past 72 hours," said the coach.

"Each day brings some new elements to test before deciding whether he is ready and match fit to play in the semi-final. The progression has been positive, which is awesome."

If Bavuma is ruled out of the showdown with Australia, his place will be taken by Reeza Hendricks, a right-handed batter.

South Africa believe the Kolkata pitch will take spin, and may bring in left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi at the expense of Lungi Ngidi or Gerald Coetzee.