(CMC) – Injury has put paceman Gerald Coetzee out of South Africa’s two-Test tour of the Caribbean next month.
The 23-year-old, who has featured in three Tests since making his debut last year against the West Indies, sustained a left-side strain while turning out in the ongoing Major League Cricket tournament in the United States.
Migael Pretorius, an uncapped 29-year-old speedster, has been named as Coetzee’s replacement for the August 7-19 series in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
“Coetzee sustained the injury while playing for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket earlier this month,” a statement from Cricket South Africa said.
“He then returned home and underwent further assessments by the Proteas medical team and has subsequently not been medically cleared to take part in the tour.”
Coetzee toured the Caribbean last May for the three-match Twenty20 series in Jamaica, featuring in two games.
He was also a key component in his side’s attack when the West Indies toured South Africa for two Tests last year, picking up nine wickets.
Pretorius, meanwhile, has been in good form for Somerset in the English County Championship, where he has taken 23 wickets for eight games.
West Indies face South Africa in the opening Test from August 7-11 before locking horns again in the series finale from August 15-19.
SA 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, Migael Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne.
