Gerald Coetzee for South Africa [Source: @Oam_16/x.com]
In what comes as big news and a shock to South Africa's preparations for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, their star pacer, Anrich Nortje, has been ruled out of the tournament. Nortje is currently nursing a back injury and will take time to recover completely from it. As a result, he will not be able to take further part in the ongoing edition of the SA20 and also the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
This is a significant loss for the South African team as Nortje forms a crucial part of their pace attack, and his express pace often causes trouble for the opposition batters. The team has not officially announced a replacement of the start pacer for the upcoming grad tournament. In this article, we will take a look at three stars who can replace Nortje in the squad -
3. Corbin Bosch
Corbin Bosch for South Africa [Source: @CallMeSheri1/x.com]
A pace-bowling all-rounder, Corbin Bosch, could be a great utility pick for the Proteas. He has recently made his debut in Test cricket and has shown his temperament at the highest level with both the bat and the ball. Besides being a valuable contributor with the ball, Bosch can be the extra bit of cushion for South Africa in the lower middle order during the tournament.
2. Ottniel Baartman
Ottneil Baartman for South Africa [Source: @SunrisersEC/x.com]
Known for his skills as a fast bowler in the important stages of a game, Ottniel Baartman could be another ideal choice for South Africa. The right-arm pacer has often proved his utility in the final stages of a game. His presence in the team will allow the management the flexibility and depth to work with in their pace department during the tournament.
1. Gerald Coetzee
The right-arm pacer is known for his express pace, just like Anrich Nortje. If the South African management is looking for a like-to-like replacement, then Gerald Coetzee could be their ideal choice. Given his ability to surprise batters with his extra pace, Coetzee might be the front-running candidate to replace Nortje in the South African squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.