Coetzee suffers another niggle after South Africa’s win over SL that is all set to keep him out of action for the 2nd Test.
Coetzee suffers a groin niggle during the first Test and is a doubt. for the second Test against Sri Lanka.
During the morning session, Coetzee bowled, starting with Kagiso Rabada but quitting after three overs. After Sri Lanka began the day five down and facing a more significant loss than they ultimately experienced, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal mounted a valiant comeback, limiting his second spell of the morning to just two overs. After lunch, Coetzee bowled three overs, sending back Chandimal caught and bowled, but he didn’t bowl again during the session.
South Africa’s coach, Shukri Conrad, claimed following the game that Coetzee had told him before lunch that he “felt a groin niggle” and returned “strapped up” after the break. Tomorrow, Coetzee, who claimed four wickets in Durban, will have scans.
Ahead of the second Test, South Africa will have to worry about that because fast bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder is also hurt (fractured right middle finger) and has already been ruled out of the match, which is scheduled to start on December 5 in Gqeberha.
“Not a big break between,” captain Temba Bavuma said in the presentation ceremony. “Wiaan is out of the series, we have to find a replacement. Gerald Coetzee, the medical team will have do to their best.”
Rabada and Player-of-the-Match Marco Jansen, two of South Africa’s three quicks who participated in the Durban Test, are healthy enough to play in the second Test, while Dane Paterson is the other quick. However, with Lungi Ngidi out until January and Nandre Burger out for the summer due to a lower back stress fracture, South Africa may find it difficult to find another fast bowler to add to the team.
Mulder’s replacement is top-order batsman Matthew Breetzke. “We will more than likely add another player to our group,” Conrad stated.