In cricket, South Africa are hosting Pakistan for a tour that includes all three formats, and runs until February. But the Proteas are making do without their fast bowler, Lungi Ngidi, who will miss the next two months with a knee injury. CGTN's Sias Du Plessis caught up with the 22-year-old to discuss his rehab, as well as his debut season with the national team.

LUNGI NGIDI SOUTH AFRICA BOWLER "The rehab is going very well, I'm into, I think my third week now, moving on to the fourth week, but I say by the fifth week I should be, you know, coming off the short run bowling."

SIAS DU PLESSIS CGTN REPORTER "Let's talk about the Ottis Gibson impact, because he appears to have made a huge difference to the South African bowling lineup."

"You know, I think the relationship between the bowling unit and the head coach is actually amazing at the moment, you know our head coach is a bowler as well, so he understands us a lot better than probably most coaches would, so you know the guys also want to impress him every day because, you know, he's been there and he's done it."

Q: "What's the best advice that he's given you?"

A: "He told me when you relax is when you bowl at your best, so that's been the main thing for me, just calm down and just run in and bowl."

Q: "It's been a phenomenal year for you and the team, fair to say it's been Lungi Ngidi's breakthrough year?"

"That's, you know yes, I've tried as best as I can to put my hand up for selection, and pretty much all formats, and that's what I've always wanted to do. Test cricket came this year and I really didn't think I was going to get the opportunity, but you know I did, and that's and opportunity you can never let go of."

Q: "Any particular series stand out for you?"

A: "The two test series that we played against India and Australia, that was probably the toughest cricket I've ever played, and you know the skill level of the Indians was unbelievable. You know the shots that they played, you know doesn't matter what area you bowled, they still able to maneuverer and get you away for a boundary. And then the Australians, you know it was just brutal abuse, you know they able to get into your head and their skill level was also up there."

Q: "How tough was it playing in Australia after what happened here in South Africa?"

A: "I'd heard a lot about the crowd. When we got there I actually found there were quite a few South Africans in the crowd, so as much abuse as you receive, you getting just as much praise from the South Africans."

Q: "Let's talk about this bowling brotherhood. KG Rabada is in the mix, number 1 test bowler in the world, and of course Dale Steyn the legend. Give us an inside into how this relationship works?"

A: "That relationship between the three of us, it's been great, especially for me, you know, to learn from Dale Steyn and KG, you know, has helped me fast-track my bowling a lot."

Q: "Let's talk about the World Cup. There's always pressure going into a World Cup. Is this something that you want to put on that bucket list and get over the line for the first time for South Africa?"

LUNGI NGIDI SOUTH AFRICA BOWLER "I think there's a lot of excitement, a lot of young guys, fearless guys, and I think that's exactly what we need, you know. We not going there with any doubt of what has happened in the past, and yes, nothing but the positives, in terms of bringing it back, that's all we thinking about."