SOUTH AFRICA EYE STRONG START VS INDIA

Fitness drill for skipper Temba Bavuma at Eden Gardens

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#KOLKATA Skipper Temba Bavuma, making a return from injury, underwent a fitness drill under the supervision of the team's trainer, physio and head coach Shukri Conrad as South Africa trained at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday morning ahead of the opening Test against India starting from Friday.

The drill involved short sprints between three marker cones and lasted about 20 minutes. While his teammates were engaged in an intense nets session, Bavuma completed his running routine, did some shadow practice and later joined the nets.

Bavuma, who missed the start of South Africa's World Test Championship title defence against Pakistan with a calf strain sustained in England in September, returned to action last week in the second unofficial Test against India A. He made a composed 59 off 101 balls in the second innings after a first-ball duck, helping South Africa A to a five-wicket win.

He is expected to replace Dewald Brevis, who managed only 46 runs in two Tests in Pakistan.

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