Coetzee Ruled Out Of Sri Lanka Test & All Format Pakistan Series

It was a body blow for South African cricket when the news came through that fast bowler Gerald Coetzee would have to sit out the rest of the series, at least until the all-format encounter against Pakistan next month. Coetzee suffered a groin injury while bowling on the fourth day of the ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka in Durban.

After undergoing scans, it was confirmed that he had suffered a muscle strain in his right groin, and he is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Coetzee now ruled out due to injury for the Sri Lanka test

Coetzee’s absence will be keenly felt, as he was one of South Africa’s key bowlers in the series. His injury came after he bowled in the morning session of Day 4, partnering with Kagiso Rabada. Coetzee had a three-over spell that went to pieces but began the day in discomfort, and he did not bowl much more than two overs after his first spell.

Eventually, he bowled only three overs post-lunch and took Dinesh Chandimal caught and bowled, a crucial blow, but that was a brief spell thereafter and Coetzee did not bowl again thereafter and reported having a “groin niggle” during lunch break to coach Shukri Conrad. Coetzee was subsequently strapped up but couldn’t continue.

Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has been brought into the team to replace Coetzee. Maphaka had made his international debut in the T20I series against West Indies early this year and will join the South African squad to continue with the remainder of the Sri Lanka Test and then Pakistan series.

This injury blow adds to South Africa’s growing list of absentees. The team is already missing Wiaan Mulder, the fast-bowling all-rounder, who is sidelined with a fractured right middle finger. Furthermore, two of the three quicks who played in the Durban Test, Kagiso Rabada and Player-of-the-Match Marco Jansen, are fit for the second Test.

Dane Paterson is also a member of the team but South Africa’s pace reserves are thin due to some other injuries. Nandre Burger is ruled out of the summer with a lower back stress fracture, and Lungi Ngidi is unavailable till January.

The second test against Sri Lanka is scheduled for St George’s Park in Gqeberha from December 5 through 9. South Africa will have to make changes to their bowling staff. Subsequently, South Africa will host Pakistan in a full series, with three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests.

The team is dealing with quite a few injury concerns as they gear up for the matches, and the management will look to get proper replacements who can come out on top in Coetzee’s place.

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