South Africa lose another key player to injury ahead of second Sri Lanka Test and Pakistan series
South Africa have lost a second player to injury during the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka.
Gerald Coetzee has joined the Proteas' growing injury list and will miss the second Test against Sri Lanka, along with the upcoming home series against Pakistan, due to a groin injury.
Coetzee experienced discomfort while bowling on the fourth day of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Scans later confirmed a strain in his right groin muscle, with a recovery timeline of 4–6 weeks.
South Africa have called up Kwena Maphaka as Coetzee’s replacement for the second Test. Maphaka, a standout performer at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup earlier this year, topped the wicket-taking charts with 21 dismissals in just six matches.
Watch all the wickets taken by Kwena Maphaka at the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024
Earlier on Friday, Wiaan Mulder was also ruled out of the Sri Lanka series after suffering a fracture to his right middle finger. Matthew Breetzke was named his replacement in the squad for the upcoming game, starting 5 December in Gqeberha.
South Africa squad for the 2nd Test: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
South Africa claimed a commanding 233-run victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka, earning crucial World Test Championship points that lifted them to second place in the standings.
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A successful run in the next three matches, including two against Pakistan, will bring them closer to their goal of reaching the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.
Revisit Gerald Coetzee lighting up CWC23
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