South Africa has been dealt a setback as fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will miss the upcoming Test series against the West Indies due to a side strain.
He will be replaced by Migael Pretorius, who, although uncapped at the Test level, has 64 first-class games under his belt.
Coetzee sustained the injury while playing in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA for the Texas Super Kings. He returned to South Africa for medical evaluations, and Cricket South Africa confirmed on Thursday that he will not be fit for the Test series starting August 7.
Pretorius was last named in a South African squad for a T20I series against Pakistan in March 2021, but he did not play. He was also selected for a Test series in Sri Lanka in December 2020 but was unable to debut due to a shoulder injury.
At 29, Pretorius has taken 188 wickets at an average of 27.50 in 64 first-class matches. He is currently the leading wicket-taker for Somerset in this season’s English County Championship with 23 wickets.
The Test series will begin in Port-of-Spain, followed by the second Test in Providence. The series will be followed by three T20Is from August 24 to 28.
The Test squad includes: 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, and Migael Pretorius.
