AB de Villiers “suffered a blow to the knee while batting ahead of the fifth ODI”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

South Africa have been dealt a monumental blow after batsman AB de Villiers was ruled out of the Twenty20 series against India with a left knee injury.

De Villiers was struck on the knee the day before the fifth ODI in Port Elizabeth and has not fully recovered.

Following the toss during the first Twenty20 International in Johannesburg, South Africa’s manager, Mohammed Moosajee, explained the extent of De Villiers’ injury.

“AB de Villiers will not be able to take part in the T20 International series against India due to a left knee injury,” Moosajee was quoted as saying by sacricketmag.com. “He suffered a blow to the knee while batting ahead of the fifth ODI, and although he passed a fitness test on Friday, the injury worsened significantly throughout the match.

“The Cricket South Africa medical team has advised he is given a period of rest and rehabilitation to make a full recovery ahead of the four-match series against Australia starting next month.”

The four-Test series between South Africa and Australia begins on March 1 in Durban.