Duminy out, Morkel in doubt for Proteas

South Africa have suffered a potential double-injury blow to star pair JP Duminy and Morne Morkel.

Duminy lacerated a finger while trying to field a shot from his own bowling in the third ODI at Rajkot and will miss the remaining two ODIs of the series, while Morkel is a question mark for Thursday’s fourth match after pulling up with a sore leg following a man-of-the-match performance in Sunday’s encounter.

Duminy wrung his hand in pain immediately after the incident but continued to remain on field, but South Africa have since declared his unavailability, naming Dean Elgar as his back-up.

Elgar is the incumbent South Africa Test opener but hasn't played ODI cricket since 2012. The last of his five ODIs came in a series in England that year and he was dropped after he scored just 93 runs at 23.25.

The 28-year-old is also a part-time left-arm orthodox spinner, so will likely account for some of the overs originally allotted to Duminy if selected.

The Proteas also have batsman Khaya Zondo in their squad, or could opt to feature a frontline bowler from among Kyle Abbott, Chris Morris or Aaron Phangiso in the absence of off-spinning allrounder Duminy.

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Previously in this series, they have played four bowlers and the pair of Duminy and Farhaan Behardien have completed the fifth bowler's quota.

Morkel meanwhile, might have to sit out of the next match in Chennai after complaining of a sore leg in the third ODI at Rajkot.

The right-arm quick suffered the injury during his sixth over but continued bowling and completed his 10-over spell, only later revealing the turnaround could be too short for him to take his place on Thursday.

"I'm a little bit concerned about it, but I think we've got a quality medical team that will help me over the next two days,” Morkel said. “I pulled up in the fourth ball of my sixth over a little bit. 

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“But let's see. I'm not confident I'll be ready for the next game. It's just a matter now of the next 24 hours.”

South Africa captain AB de Villiers was pleased with Morkel's efforts with the ball despite his injury, as he battled on to finish with the decisive figures of 4-39.

"It would have been a very easy decision for him to just go off and call it a day, but he pulled through for the boys and he bowled exceptionally well with a sore leg in the last four overs,” de Villiers said.

“He turned the game on its head, with a few other contributions, obviously. But he deserves all that is coming his way.”