Temba Bavuma ruled out final T20 against Australia

South Africa will not be able to call upon Temba Bavuma ahead of their third and final T20 International against Australia at Newlands on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old has played no part in the ongoing series after sustaining a hamstring injury while fielding in the final match against England at Centurion.

Temba Bavuma unavailable for Newlands match 

Bavuma was initially due to miss the opening match against Australia, and was eyeing a return to action in the second clash in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

However, he did not make the playing XI, with Lions teammate Reeza Hendricks opening the batting after being brought on as cover.

Another player who missed both matches against the Aussie is wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, whose only involvement in national colours this summer was in the final T20I against England, where he top-scored with a career-best 69 in a losing cause.

He has been declared fit to play on Wednesday and could walk straight back into the playing XI.

Finding a partner for Quinton de Kock

South Africa posted big totals throughout the series against England, on the back of good starts provided by captain Quinton de Kock and Bavuma.

The duo put together two partnerships over 50 while falling just short on the other occasion.

Against Australia, the skipper has had two different opening partners in Bavuma’s absence.

Rassie van der Dussen was promoted up the order in the first match, an experiment which failed as both he and de Kock were back in the shed with just 17 runs on the board .

With Hendricks, de Kock was part of a 60-run opening partnership, but was the main aggressor, with his partner contributing just 14 runs, which took 17 balls to compile.

Klaasen’s return to fitness could push Hendricks out of the playing XI, with van der Dussen getting another go as an opener.

Another option up front for South Africa is former captain Faf du Plessis, who has opened for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

The match at Newlands is expected to start at 18:00 (SAST).

South Africa T20 squad vs Australia

South Africa T20 squad: Quinton de Kock (captain, wicketkeeper, Titans), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), David Miller (Dolphins), Pite van Biljon (Knights), Dwaine Pretorius (Lions), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Jon-Jon Smuts (Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Dale Steyn (Titans), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans).