South Africa has suffered a setback as fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against the West Indies due to a side strain.
He will be replaced by Migael Pretorius, who is uncapped at the Test level but brings the experience of 64 first-class games to his credit.
Coetzee strained his left side during the USA’s T20 franchise league, Major League Cricket (MLC), while playing for the Texas Super Kings. He has since returned home for assessments by the medical team. Cricket South Africa confirmed on Thursday that Coetzee was not fit to play in the Test series starting on August 7.
Pretorius was last named in a South Africa squad in March 2021 for a T20I series against Pakistan, but he did not get a cap. He also received a call in December 2020 for a Test series in Sri Lanka but was unable to debut due to a shoulder injury.
The 29-year-old Pretorius has taken 188 wickets at an average of 27.50 in 64 first-class games. He is currently the leading wicket-taker for Somerset in this season’s English County Championship, with 23 wickets.
South Africa will kick off the Test series in Port-of-Spain, before moving to Providence for the second Test. Three T20Is will follow from August 24 to 28.
The Test squad:
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- David Bedingham
- Matthew Breetzke
- Nandre Burger
- Tony de Zorzi
- Keshav Maharaj
- Aiden Markram
- Wiaan Mulder
- Lungi Ngidi
- Dane Paterson
- Dane Piedt
- Kagiso Rabada
- Tristan Stubbs
- Ryan Rickelton
- Kyle Verreynne
- Migael Pretorius
Source: ESPNcricinfo
