A left side strain keeps Gerald Coetzee out of the West Indies Test series

Gerald Coetzee, one of South Africa’s rising fast bowlers, will not play in the two-match Test series against the West Indies that begins next month, which is a big blow to the cricket team.

The 23-year-old speedster was forced to miss the vital tour after sustaining a left side strain during a Major League Cricket match for the Texas Super Kings earlier this month.

In an attempt to continue their winning ways in Test cricket, the Proteas have moved quickly to cover for Gerald Coetzee.

Migael Pretorius, a 29-year-old fast bowler for the North-West Dragons, has been called up to replace him. This is his first appearance in the Test setup in almost four years.

The team and player alike are disappointed by Coetzee’s injury. This series was viewed as another chance for the youthful quick, who has been making waves in international cricket, to maintain his spot in the Proteas bowling attack.

After coming back from the MLC, Coetzee was examined carefully by the Proteas medical staff, who finally declined to clear him for the Caribbean tour.

Two Test series matches will feature South Africa.

Although he has not yet played in a Test match, Pretorius offers the team a plethora of elite experience. Throughout his first-class career, he has amassed 188 wickets, demonstrating his consistency in the lengthier format. He recently played for Somerset in the England County Championship, taking 23 wickets in eight games.

Pretorius has a second opportunity to enter the Test setup with this call-up. Although he did not make his debut, he was initially called up to the Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka in December 2020. Pretorius now has a fantastic chance to play Test cricket on the pitch because Coetzee is out.

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August 7th in Trinidad and Tobago’s Queen’s Park Oval will mark the start of the two-match Test series against the West Indies. On August 15th, the second Test will take place at Guyana National Stadium. South Africa will play a warm-up match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from July 31 to August 3 against a West Indies Invitational XI before to the series.

South Africa Test squad against West Indies

Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Migael Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne.