Proteas Medium Pacer Sisanda Magala’s Recent Cricket Participation Explained by Coach Walter
Sisanda Magala, the Proteas medium pace bowler, raised eyebrows among cricket enthusiasts when he appeared for the Lions despite originally being named in the 15-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup. His inclusion in the squad had to be revoked due to an injury last week, prompting questions about his sudden return to franchise cricket, leading some to speculate whether there were other factors behind his absence from the national team, aside from injury or fitness concerns.
Proteas coach Rob Walter has provided insight into the situation, clarifying why Sisanda Magala was replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo.
According to Walter, Magala had been dealing with an injury all along, which influenced the decision to replace him. Walter expressed the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing that Magala had been a valued performer in the team’s plans. However, during the recent series against Australia, the team faced challenges in getting Magala onto the field. Despite their best efforts, Magala’s participation remained limited.
Walter explained, “The decision on Sisanda was an incredibly difficult one. I think first and foremost, every squad that I’ve picked since I became head coach has had him in it because I do value him as a performer for this team, but unfortunately throughout the Aussie series, we just couldn’t get him on the park. Everyone was working hard to make that happen, but it just didn’t happen,” as quoted in SA Cricket Magazine.
He further elaborated that the regulations for the World Cup are notably different from those applicable to domestic cricket, such as the Lions. This disparity in regulations played a role in Magala’s appearance for his franchise team.
Walter emphasized that the team couldn’t take the risk of including Magala in the World Cup squad because he had been dealing with an injury even before the team’s departure for India. Consequently, the decision to replace him was made to prioritize his long-term fitness and the team’s overall performance in the tournament.
