South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of the remaining tests of the Sri Lanka Test Series and the upcoming Pakistan Test Series. Coetzee sprained his right groin in the first test match against Sri Lanka in Durban. Coetzee is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks after scans at the stumps of Day Four of the Durban Test.
In place of Coetzee, 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka is called into the test team for the second test against Sri Lanka. Maphaka hasn’t made his test debut yet; he has played only three T20Is for South Africa so far and madeT20I debut against West Indies on August 23, 2024.
Coetzee’s absence adds to South Africa’s injury troubles, which also include the absence of Wiaan Mulder, the fast-bowling allrounder, who has been ruled out of the action due to a fractured right middle finger.
Despite the absence of Mulder and Coetzee, South Africa still has a great pace battery for the second test against Sri Lanka. Two of their three premier fast bowlers from the Durban Test-Player-of-the-Match of the Durban Test, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, are fit for the second Test, while Dane Paterson is the other quickie in the team. However, Nandre Burger is out for the summer due to a lower back stress fracture, and Lungi Ngidi will be sidelined until January.
Long story short, South Africa is struggling with the injuries in the pace department, and playing in St George’s Park without your frontline pacers will be challenging considering the conditions there. South Africa has to play Sri Lanka in the second Test at St George’s Park from December 5-9.
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