Coetzee bowled in the morning session of the Durban Test on Saturday, starting Kagiso Rabada, but stopped after a three-over spell. Their second spell of the morning came in just two overs as Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal put up a spirited fight for Sri Lanka having started the day five down and looking for a bigger defeat than they ultimately suffered. Coetzee did not bowl again after that in the session, but did bowl three overs after lunch, sending back Chandimal caught and bowled.
Shukri Conrad, the South Africa coach, said after the day’s match that Coetzee had spoken to him at lunch and told him that he “felt a pain in his groin” and that he returned after the break “tied up”.
Coetzee’s absence adds to South Africa’s injury woes as they are already without fast bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder due to a fractured right middle finger.
Two of the three South African quicks who played the Durban Test – Rabada and Man of the Match Marco Jansen – are fit for the second Test, and Dane Paterson is the team’s other quick. However, Nandre Burger will be sidelined over the summer with a stress fracture in his lower back, while Lungi Ngidi will be sidelined until January.
South Africa will play Sri Lanka in the second Test at St George’s Park between December 5 and 9. After that, they will host Pakistan for three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.
