Bangalore: South Africa suffered a crushing double blow ahead of today's second Test against India as both pace spearheads Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander were ruled out with injuries.


Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn

Philander twisted his left ankle during practice in Bangalore on Thursday and will miss the rest of the four-Test series as MRI scans showed he may be out of action for up to eight weeks.

Yesterday, South African skipper Hashim Amla confirmed that Steyn had not recovered from a groin strain he suffered during the first Test in Mohali last week. "Both Dale (Steyn) and Philander are ruled out of this match," Amla told reporters as the tourists prepared to bid for a series-levelling win.