Gerald Coetzee, a South African bowler, is injured. Sadly, he won’t be part of the New Year’s Test against India. He took one wicket in South Africa’s big win over India in the first Test. It all happened at the Super Sport Park in Centurion.
Despite Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi being injured, Gerald Coetzee made the initial team. He didn’t get much attention, though. Kagiso Rabada and newcomer Nandre Burger took many of the wickets in both innings.
Gerald Coetzee played in a single T20I match with India before hitting the Test series. This was prior to a first-class game he played for the Titans. There’s currently no replacement for Gerald Coetzee in the Proteas squad announced.
The second Test in Cape Town won’t see the South African captain, Temba Bavuma. A hamstring injury occurred while he was fielding. He didn’t bat in the first, or only, round for South Africa.
Dean Elgar will captain the team in his final Test appearance in his absence.
Lungi Ngidi set to take Gerald Coetzee’s spot in South Africa’s playing XI
Following a strong performance in Centurion, South Africa will almost certainly stick with the same lineup, although with two forced alterations in Bavuma and Coetzee. The four pacers formula, which allows the side to play one additional batter, has worked flawlessly, and it is likely to be maintained with Ngidi replacing Coetzee in a direct swap.
Ngidi suffered an ankle injury in the closing stages of the 2023 ODI World Cup and did not participate in the semi-final against Australia. He was also ruled out of the white-ball leg at home against India.
The right-arm bowler has a strong record against India, having taken nearly half of his red-ball career wickets against the Men in Blue.
If Ngidi can’t quite recover in time, the Proteas might call Wiaan Mulder off the bench.
Mark your calendars! January 3 is when India and South Africa clash in the second Test in Cape Town.
In this two-match Test bout, the Proteas are 1 up so far.