<p>Duanne Olivier was recovering from Covid-19 and had suffered a mild hamstring strain, said South African selection convener Victor Mpitsang while explaining why he was omitted for the first Test against India at SuperSport Park.</p>.<p>The 29-year-old's non-selection was one of the big talking points of the first day on Sunday when India piled up 272 for three, with K L Rahul scoring 122 not out.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read:<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/right-way-to-go-shastri-backs-split-captaincy-1065162.html" target="_blank"> 'Right way to go': Shastri backs split captaincy</a></strong></p>.<p>Olivier was the form bowler of the South African domestic season leading up to the Test series, with 28 wickets at an average of 11.10 in four first-class matches.</p>.<p>With his ability to intimidate batsmen with fast, short-pitched deliveries, Olivier had been expected to play a key role in the Test team, especially after Anrich Nortje, the country's fastest bowler, was ruled out of the series with a hip injury.</p>.<p>Olivier took 48 wickets in ten Tests before joining English county Yorkshire on a Kolpak contract in 2019.</p>.<p>With the Kolpak system coming to an end, he once again became available for South Africa.</p>.<p>There was no explanation for Olivier's absence when the team was announced, nor did Olivier indicate any possible impediment to him playing when Cricket South Africa released a recording of comments made by him last Thursday.</p>.<p>But Mpitsang was quoted on the <em>ESPNCricinfo </em>website on Monday as saying illness and injury had meant Olivier was not able to prepare fully for the first Test.</p>.<p>"Duanne Olivier is healthy and well but did return a positive Covid-19 test result a number of weeks ago, which forced him to quarantine and took time away from his training," Mpitsang told the website.</p>.<p>"His workloads were not where the selection panel would have wanted them to be by the time he entered the team bubble ahead of the first Test match.</p>.<p>"He picked up a hamstring niggle during the two-day, inter-squad match at the start of the camp and the selectors did not want to risk him unnecessarily when there are two more Test matches to think about."</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Duanne Olivier was recovering from Covid-19 and had suffered a mild hamstring strain, said South African selection convener Victor Mpitsang while explaining why he was omitted for the first Test against India at SuperSport Park.</p>.<p>The 29-year-old's non-selection was one of the big talking points of the first day on Sunday when India piled up 272 for three, with K L Rahul scoring 122 not out.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read:<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/right-way-to-go-shastri-backs-split-captaincy-1065162.html" target="_blank"> 'Right way to go': Shastri backs split captaincy</a></strong></p>.<p>Olivier was the form bowler of the South African domestic season leading up to the Test series, with 28 wickets at an average of 11.10 in four first-class matches.</p>.<p>With his ability to intimidate batsmen with fast, short-pitched deliveries, Olivier had been expected to play a key role in the Test team, especially after Anrich Nortje, the country's fastest bowler, was ruled out of the series with a hip injury.</p>.<p>Olivier took 48 wickets in ten Tests before joining English county Yorkshire on a Kolpak contract in 2019.</p>.<p>With the Kolpak system coming to an end, he once again became available for South Africa.</p>.<p>There was no explanation for Olivier's absence when the team was announced, nor did Olivier indicate any possible impediment to him playing when Cricket South Africa released a recording of comments made by him last Thursday.</p>.<p>But Mpitsang was quoted on the <em>ESPNCricinfo </em>website on Monday as saying illness and injury had meant Olivier was not able to prepare fully for the first Test.</p>.<p>"Duanne Olivier is healthy and well but did return a positive Covid-19 test result a number of weeks ago, which forced him to quarantine and took time away from his training," Mpitsang told the website.</p>.<p>"His workloads were not where the selection panel would have wanted them to be by the time he entered the team bubble ahead of the first Test match.</p>.<p>"He picked up a hamstring niggle during the two-day, inter-squad match at the start of the camp and the selectors did not want to risk him unnecessarily when there are two more Test matches to think about."</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>