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Due to pelvic irritation, fast bowler Gerald Coetzee
of South Africa will not play in the second Test against India, which gets
underway in Cape Town on January 3. There is no substitute named by South
Africa.
According to a statement from Cricket South Africa,
Coetzee’s inflammation started during the first Test match in Centurion and
became “progressively worse while bowling” in India’s second innings.
On Friday, scans were sent to determine the extent of the injury. Conrad
Shukri, South Africa’s Test coach, decided to remove Coetzee from the team
“as a precautionary measure,” but it is unclear if he will be ready
for the SA20, which gets underway on January 10.
With skipper Temba Bavuma sidelined for the first Test
against India due to a hamstring injury, Coetzee becomes the second player from
South Africa to sustain an injury in the opening Test match. With Stubbs also
included in the team, Zubayr Hamza has been called up to bat in place of
Coetzee, but South Africa already has two other fast bowlers they may use in
his place. Lungi Ngidi was ruled not match fit for the first Test, although he
has since recovered from the ankle ailment that held him out of the T20Is. He
was spotted working out during the game. Another option in the team is
all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, but it’s probable that South Africa will turn to
Keshav Maharaj in what should be a more spinner-friendly surface in Cape Town.
In Centurion, Coetzee was South Africa’s most
expensive bowler in both innings with the ball, and picked up just one wicket.