Proteas Fast Bowling Woes Mount With Gerald Coetzee Ruled Out

Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walters fast bowling headaches multiplied on Sunday after Gerald Coetzee was ruled out of the remainder of the SA20 with a hamstring injury.

The Joburg Super Kings tearaway played in his teams opener against Durbans Super Giants last week but subsequently missed the next match against Pretoria Capitals and the El Clasico against MI Cape Town at Newlands.

The Proteas have already been rocked by Anrich Nortjes withdrawal from the Proteas Champions Trophy squad due to a back injury last week.

Coetzee, who was the Proteas leading wicket-taker at the 2023 World Cup in India, was being lined up as a like-for-like replacement in the pace department.

Cricket SA have not officially ruled Coetzee out of Champions Trophy contention as yet with squads only needing to be finalised by February 11, but it does look unlikely that the 24-year-old will be ready for such a high intensity tournament.