Gerald Coetzee replaces injured Anrich Nortje in South Africa XI

Gerald Coetzee has been brought into the South Africa side for the series decider against Australia in Cape Town, replacing the injured Anrich Nortje. The fast bowler returns to Test cricket after almost two years.

Nortje has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a groin injury. The third Test starts on Tuesday, with the two sides level after sharing the first two matches.

The injury and the replacement

Nortje bowled only 3.3 overs in the first innings of the Gqeberha Test before the groin problem ended his involvement. He had come back to red-ball cricket in the Durban opener after more than three and a half years, bowling 40 overs and taking two wickets in each innings.

Coetzee was confirmed as the replacement on Monday, a like-for-like swap in the pace attack. He was chosen ahead of Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson, who both offer a different style of right-arm pace. Captain Temba Bavuma had earlier named Coetzee, Paterson, Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy as the options, saying the hosts would go with the best choice for the role.

The injury is understood to be less serious than first feared. Keshav Maharaj, described as South Africa’s most prolific spinner of all time, stays on the bench for the Cape Town Test.

What’s next

The Cape Town Test begins on Tuesday, 27 October, at 2:00 PM IST. It is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 series between South Africa and Australia. South Africa are then next scheduled to play England, with the first match of that series on Thursday, 17 December at 1:30 PM IST and the second on Saturday, 26 December at 1:30 PM IST.

Australia’s next fixtures after the South Africa tour are against England, starting on Friday, 13 November at 9:00 AM IST.