South Africa middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test against England, with a Grade 1 hip flexor muscle strain.

This is a huge blow for the Proteas as Bavuma is one of their more experienced players in a Test squad that has as many as six uncapped players for the series against England.

Bavuma’s absence could open the door for Rassie van der Dussen to make his Test debut.

The 29-year-old will be sidelined for between seven and 10 days and should recover in time for the second match in the four-test series that starts in Cape Town on January 3.

“Temba Bavuma presented with clinical features of a left hip flexor strain. A scan done yesterday (Thursday) confirmed a Grade 1 strain of one of the hip flexor muscles, ” said Cricket South Africa’s chief medical officer, Shuaib Manjra.” Temba will commence his rehabilitation programme with a goal of returning to play in 7 to 10 days’ time.”

The selectors are yet to name a replacement and will consider their options at the end of the ongoing round of four-day domestic first class matches and the three-day practice game between South Africa A and England starting on Friday.

South Africa Test squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Zubayr Hamza, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second, Rassie van der Dussen.