South Africa’s fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will be sidelined for the upcoming Cape Town Test against India after developing pelvic inflammation during the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion. This setback comes after Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the second Test due to a hamstring strain.
Coetzee, 23, experienced discomfort in his pelvis while bowling on day three of the previous Test, and the condition worsened over time. Following scans that revealed the extent of his injury, the team’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, decided to release Coetzee from the squad as a precautionary measure.
While no replacement has been named for Coetzee, it is likely that Lungi Ngidi will step in for the upcoming match. Coetzee’s performance in the first Test was below par, as he managed to take only one wicket. However, he had shown promising form leading up to the series.
In the absence of Bavuma and now Coetzee, Dean Elgar will lead the South African side in what will be his farewell Test. The match is scheduled to take place at Newlands in South Africa from January 3, 2024.
South Africa’s squad for the Cape Town Test includes Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Keegan Petersen, Zubayr Hamza, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, and Tristan Stubbs.
This development adds an interesting layer of anticipation to the upcoming Test match, as South Africa adjusts its lineup in the absence of key players.
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