'Enforcer' Coetzee recalled as Proteas name XI for series decider

Gerald Coetzee will make his Test return as South Africa continue their high-pace approach against Australia.

The 26-year-old comes in as the replacement for Anrich Nortje who sustained a groin injury after bowling only 3.3 overs in the second Test in Gqeberha. The swap of pace bowlers is the only change to the Proteas side that won by an innings and 31 runs at St George's Park.

South Africa third Test XI: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee

It will be Coetzee's first Test in almost two years and the right-armer has played only two first-class games since, most recently a four-day match for South Africa A against Bangladesh A in August. He took 3-31 and 1-29.

Coeztee has travelled with the hosts' squad since the first Test but had been restricted to bowling with the squad's reserves on training days. However, on Sunday he joined the main group during their main training session at Newlands. 

He edged out fellow quicks Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson, with captain Temba Bavuma confirming it was his ability to consistently bowl above 140kph that got him the nod.

"He's probably the closest guy in terms of a like-for-like … in terms of the role Anrich plays in the bowling attack as an enforcer," Bavuma told reporters on Monday.

"Gerald does have an extra bit of pace.

"We did consider the fact that he hasn't played for a while, (but) he's been with the team, getting his workloads in, and he's a guy who we believe has the ability to make a big play for the team."

Coetzee returned to South Africa's ODI side for the first time in three years last month, playing against the Aussies in Durban and Potchefstroom.

He was a breakout star at the ODI World Cup in 2023 but a slew of injuries, including side strains, pectoral tears and groin issues have sidelined him for a large portion of that period in between.

His lack of cricket wasn't seen as a negative with the Proteas prepared to take some risks for their "enforcer" role, as seen with the selection of Nortje in Gqeberha.

Nortje hadn't played any red-ball cricket for over three years before he sent down 40 overs in the opening Test in Durban. He was asked to back that up on a four-day turnaround into the second Test and ultimately broke down early in Australia's first innings.

"In terms of how we balance our bowling attack, you want the guy who can play that enforcer role, especially when the wicket gets flat or when the wicket gets soft," Bavuma said. 

"Gerald is a guy who can do that. You've got Marco (Jansen) who comes in from a different angle. You've got Wiaan, he's got a different angle (too). As a batter that keeps you on your toes."  

Confirmation of Coetzee's inclusion has confined Keshav Maharaj to another week on the bench after Simon Harmer was picked ahead of him in the second Test. 

Veteran Maharaj is the country's most prolific spinner in Test history with 220 wickets to his name and has played in seven of the past eight Cape Town Tests. 

While the South Africans believe spin will be a factor as the match at Newlands progresses, there was only room for one slow bowler. 

"It's one of the tougher decisions to be a part of," Bavuma said of Maharaj's omission. 

"Kesh has been a stalwart for us and he's won many games for us as a team. 

"He understands the cricketing reason behind it. Australia have a plethora of left-handers in their top seven. So a guy like Simon (Harmer) turning it away from them becomes a real threat."

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster