Proteas fast bowler Gerald Coetzee in action against the Black Caps earlier this year.
After Gerald Coetzee finished top of the wicket-takers list across both teams during the New Zealand T20I series earlier this year — and, more importantly, came through the five-match series unscathed—the fiery fast bowler would be forgiven for thinking he was a sure bet to form part of the Proteas squads for the upcoming white-ball tour to Namibia at the end of the month.
Instead, Coetzee has been overlooked in favour of all-rounders Duan Jansen and Eathan Bosch and has been drafted into the SA ‘A’ squads to face Bangladesh ‘A’ in two four-day and three one-day matches over the same period.
Back in March, after the first T20I against the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui, the 25-year-old admitted, “Where I’m in the pecking order, I don’t really know,” but went further by stating: "I'm playing now, which is great, and that will be my focus — just to play where I can to do my best.”
Since then, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has sat down with the injury-prone paceman and feels it’s best for Coetzee to put as many bowling miles into his legs as possible, especially with a long Test season ahead.
