Proteas lose quickie Coetzee for Windies Test series, uncapped Pretorius roped in as cover

The Proteas have lost the services of fast bowler Gerald Coetzee for next month's two-Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

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Cricket South Africa announced on Thursday that Coetzee is laid low by a left side strain. The 23-year-old sustained the injury while playing for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket in the United States earlier this month.

Further assessments by the Proteas medical team deemed the player unfit for the tour.

North West Dragons quickie Migael Pretorius has been named as Coetzee's replacement.

The uncapped Pretorius returns to the SA Test setup for the first time since his maiden call-up in December 2020 against Sri Lanka. The 29-year-old is yet to make his Test debut though.

Pretorius boasts 188 first class wickets, with his most recent red-ball outings seeing him bag 23 wickets in eight matches for Somerset in the ongoing English County Championship.

Temba Bavuma (captain, Lions), David Bedingham (Western Province), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Dane Piedt (Knights), Migael Pretorius (North West Dragons), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), and Kyle Verreynne ( Western Province)

Warm-up match 

31 July - 3 August at 10:00 local time (16:00 SA time)

West Indies Invitational XI v South Africa - Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 

Test series

7 - 11 August at 10:00 local time (16:00 SA time)West Indies v South Africa - Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and