Injured Gerald Coetzee Withdraws from West Indies Test Series

Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of South Africa’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies due to a side strain he sustained while playing in the Major League Cricket (MLC) for the USA’s T20 franchise league. Migael Pretorius, who has not yet played at the Test level but boasts experience from 64…


Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of South Africa’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies due to a side strain he sustained while playing in the Major League Cricket (MLC) for the USA’s T20 franchise league. Migael Pretorius, who has not yet played at the Test level but boasts experience from 64 first-class matches, will step in as Coetzee’s replacement.

Coetzee, who was playing for the Texas Super Kings, returned to South Africa for an evaluation of his injured left side by the national medical team. On Thursday, Cricket South Africa announced that he has not been cleared to participate in the Test series, which starts on August 7.

Pretorius was previously named in the South African squad in March 2021 for a T20I series against Pakistan but did not get a chance to play. He was also called up for a Test series in Sri Lanka in December 2020 but couldn’t make his debut due to a shoulder injury.

At 29, Pretorius has taken 188 wickets at an average of 27.50 in his 64 first-class games. Currently, he is the leading wicket-taker for Somerset in the English County Championship season, with 23 wickets at an average of 39.43.

South Africa will begin the Test series in Port-of-Spain before moving to Providence for the second Test. The series will be followed by three T20Is from August 24 to 28.

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