SA bowling coach excited by Gerald Coetzee's pace and aggression: 'He has proper white line fever'

Knights seamer Gerald Coetzee may not be as high in the Proteas bowling pecking order as he would want, but he's done enough to excite bowling coach Charl Langeveldt.

Coetzee took a hat-trick in the drawn four-day tour game against the Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane as the Proteas bowlers got themselves into shape for Saturday's first Test against Australia at the Gabba in Queensland's capital.

It wouldn't come as a surprise if Coetzee, a proven age-group star who played in two Under-19 World Cups in 2018 and 2020, would have to do bench time as Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi showed little signs of ring-rust.

READ | From Jonty to Kallis: 5 epic Proteas Test knocks in Australia

However, in a land where tall fast bowlers are generally the difference, Langeveldt knows they may have a ready-made fire and brimstone replacement in the event of an injury.

"I'm excited by Gerald and I've only seen him on TV. He's been with us in the nets, but it's different on the field," Langeveldt said.

"He looks like he has proper white line fever when he gets onto the field, but I've only seen him bowl in the nets.

"Seeing him bowling live with the aggression was exciting. He's another guy who can step up and bowl at pace."

While South Africa's bowling attack is far from aged, Langeveldt said it was necessary for younger pace bowlers to continually ask questions of the incumbents.

READ | Nantie Hayward: Pace, big runs up front key to Proteas unsettling Australia at home

Rabada remains the leader of the bowling attack, but he also has an excellent support cast that just needs the batting to back them up ever so much.

Langeveldt is also chuffed with how Nortje has worked up a good head of steam as SA's fastest bowler.

"Compe