Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee are expected to return to action by November. They were rested for South Africa’s white-ball tour of the UAE. The team will face Afghanistan and Ireland during the tour. Both bowlers are currently undergoing a 12-week conditioning program. This is part of CSA’s strategy to manage fast bowlers and prevent injuries.
Jansen has been dealing with a shoulder issue, while Coetzee is recovering from a hip injury. Neither has featured for South Africa since June, with Jansen being rested from the West Indies Tests and Coetzee getting injured just before those matches. CSA had already identified the need to rest these young players even before their injuries, as part of a broader plan to maintain peak performance.
Rabada’s Rest Ahead of Packed Test Schedule
South Africa’s white-ball coach, Rob Walter, emphasized the importance of managing the workloads of young fast bowlers. “Both players were showing signs of chronic physiological stress, which is common among fast bowlers,” he explained. “We had to intervene to give them the best chance to perform and avoid serious injuries that could derail their careers.”
Similarly, premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is being given an extended break ahead of a busy Test cricket schedule. South Africa will play two Tests against Bangladesh in October, followed by series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. CSA is awaiting a security assessment to confirm travel to Bangladesh due to political tensions, which recently led to the women’s T20 World Cup being moved to the UAE. The packed calendar also includes the SA20, Champions Trophy, and IPL, making this the only window for Rabada to rest.
Expanding the Player Pool for Future Competitions
In Rabada’s absence, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman will lead the pace attack in the UAE. Anrich Nortje, still recovering from stress fractures, and spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi are also rested. CSA is using this opportunity to broaden its player pool, exposing younger talents to international cricket to ensure a deeper squad for future competitions.
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