Due to a groin injury, fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will miss South Africa’s next all-format series against Pakistan and the second Test match against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha.
After tests showed a strained muscle in his right groin, Coetzee, who sustained the injury while bowling on day four of the Durban Test match against Sri Lanka, might miss up to six weeks of action. Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who made his debut for his country earlier this year in the Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies, will take his position in the squad.
On Saturday, Coetzee bowled in the Durban Test morning session. He started with Kagiso Rabada but quit after three overs. After Sri Lanka began the day five down and facing a more significant loss than they ultimately experienced, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal mounted a valiant comeback, limiting his second spell of the morning to just two overs. After lunch, Coetzee bowled three overs, sending back Chandimal caught and bowled, but he didn’t bowl again during the session.
South Africa’s coach, Shukri Conrad, claimed following the game that Gerald Coetzee had told him before lunch that he “felt a groin niggle” and returned “strapped up” after the break.
South Africa’s injury problems are made worse by Coetzee’s absence. The fast-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder is already sidelined because of a fractured right middle finger.
Rabada and Player-of-the-Match Marco Jansen, two of South Africa’s three quicks who participated in the Durban Test, are healthy enough to play in the second Test, while Dane Paterson is the other quick. However, Lungi Ngidi will be out until January, and Nandre Burger will be sidelined for the summer due to a lower back stress fracture.
The second Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka will take place at St George’s Park from December 5 to 9. They will then host Pakistan for two Test matches, three ODIs, and three T20Is.
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