South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje has opened up on his omission from the national team across all formats. Injuries have haunted Anrich Nortje recently. He sustained a back injury, which meant that he missed a part of SA20 and the entire 2025 Champions Trophy.

South Africa will next be in action during the 2025 World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s from 11 June. Nortje, however, is not part of the squad. South Africa have not won an ICC trophy since clinching the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

Australia, on the other hand, are the defending champions of the World Test Championship, having beaten India in the 2023 WTC final.

Nortje on South Africa absence

The 31-year-old last played for South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India last year in June. He finished with figures of 2/26 from four overs. He finished the tournament with 15 wickets as the Proteas endured a runners-up finish, losing to India in the final.

Both his last ODI and Test matches came in 2023. He had missed the 2023 ODI World Cup due to the back injury. Anrich Nortje has so far played 83 matches across formats for South Africa and has taken a combined tally of 159 wickets.