The Karate Kid Returns: Gerald Coetzee set for Proteas comeback against Aussies

Durban’s Super Giants fast bowler Gerald Coetzee could potentially share the new ball with his franchise teammate Kwena Maphaka for the Proteas in the upcoming ODI series against Australia.

The three-match series kicks off at the duo’s home ground Kingsmead on September 24.

Coetzee’s return to the ODI arena would close off a three-year absence from the longer white-ball format after last playing at the 2023 World Cup in India - ironically against Australia in the semi-final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Although finishing as the Proteas’ highest wicket-taker in the tournament, Coetzee could not build on this success due to a litany of injuries over the past three years.

This has also limited his involvement in Betway SA20, where he’s played only four games across the last three seasons, having missed the entire Season 2.

But ‘the Karate Kid’ is fit and firing again after starring on the tour to New Zealand earlier this year and coming through successive South Africa ‘A’ tours unscathed up until this juncture.

"It's great to see Gerald back in the fold and, by all accounts, he's been bowling nice and quickly," Proteas coach Shukri Conrad said.

"I'd like to think that he's over all the injuries. He's obviously had a good winter, played a four-day game for the A-side and was meant to play, well, got in a few overs yesterday (Sunday) in the rained-out match.

"He's also on track in terms of what his build-up is going to look like. So, I'm really happy where he's at. Like I say, the first-class games with the A-side were important. So yeah, raring to go again, guys like Gerald, (with) express pace are wonderful options to have."

Full Proteas Men’s Squad for ODI Series against Australia

Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman (Paarl Royals), Corbin Bosch (MI Cape Town), Matthew Breetzke (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Gerald Coetzee (Durban’s Super Giants), Quinton de Kock (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Tony de Zorzi (Durban’s Super Giants), Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Keshav Maharaj (Pretoria Capitals), Kwena Maphaka (Durban’s Super Giants), Aiden Markram (Durban’s Super Giants), David Miller (Paarl Royals), Lungi Ngidi (Pretoria Capitals), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape).