South Africa fast bowler Gerald Coetzee’s availability for the second Test is in doubt
Gerald Coetzee is doubtful for the second Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park, which begins on Thursday, due to a groin issue.
Coetzee took 2/18 and 2/67 in South Africa’s 233-run victory in the first Test at Kingsmead on Saturday (November 30).
“We chatted at lunch, and he said he felt his groin a little bit,” said Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s coach, during a press conference.
“Sizwe [Hadebe, the team’s physiotherapist] treated him and strapped it.
We told him to go out and bowl and see how it reacts.
He will have a scan tomorrow, and then we’ll know more.”
South Africa’s usual abundance of fast bowlers is at a rare low, with Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger sidelined by groin and lumbar injuries, and Anrich Nortje limiting his participation to T20Is.
“It’s always a concern when you’ve got more injured players than fit ones, but we’ll manage it,” Conrad said.
“We’ll see what comes back from the scan tomorrow and assess whether it’s a risk given the quick turnaround.
Thankfully, we have a day off tomorrow, but we’ll need to monitor how the guys recover and decide if we need to strengthen the squad based on conditions.”
The squad for the Sri Lanka series includes medium pacer Dane Paterson and left-arm spinning allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, but Conrad named only 14 players, leaving one spot open for possible replacements from South Africa’s domestic competition.
This strategy provides flexibility, though it may not help Conrad much given that the leading wicket-takers in the domestic competition heading into this round are spinners Kyle Simmonds, Tsepo Ndwandwa, and Shaun von Berg.
If necessary, Lutho Sipamla could make a return.
Sipamla, who last played Test cricket against New Zealand in Christchurch in February and March 2022, has taken 11 wickets in two first-class matches this season at an average of 19.90, and his experience could prove valuable should South Africa need reinforcements.
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