Dwan Jansen and Ethan Bosch may debut for Proteas after Jason Smith's exclusion

Despite impressive performances in the T20I series against the Black Caps earlier this year, where Gerald Coetzee topped the bowlers' list and avoided injuries, the player was not selected for the Proteas squad for the upcoming tour of baseball formats in Namibia at the end of the month.

Instead, Coetzee was assigned to the South African 'A' team to play against Bangladesh 'A' in two four-day and three one-day matches during the same period. Previously, in March, following the first T20I against the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui, the 25-year-old athlete admitted he was unsure of his standing in the rankings but emphasized that playing at a high level was his priority.

Since then, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad had a discussion with the injury-prone pacer, deciding that Coetzee needed to accumulate as many bowling miles as possible given the upcoming long Test season.

Conrad explained that the conversation took place while he was in the UK, and Gerald joined the 'A' squad there. He noted that Coetzee has a strong desire to be part of the Proteas, both in the Test and ODI teams.

Coetzee received an offer from an English county and asked the coach to play for the South African 'A' team instead of playing in England, as he aims to make an impression. Conrad views this as a great start, as Coetzee is full of the desire to impress.

The coach expressed hope that all injuries were in the past and stated that Gerald plays a huge role in the team's future attack. Conrad believes that Coetzee's absence from the Namibia series will not harm his chances for a permanent international return, especially since he understands his unique qualities.

He stressed that he had always known about Gerald's potential, as he was one of the first players he selected when taking up the role of Test coach. Conrad defined a clear role for Coetzee, particularly in ODIs, where he will be tasked with aggressive middle-over bowling to take wickets.

Conrad added that Gerald is an integral part of the team's attacking line, possessing genuine pace. He highlighted the value of pace in both Tests and, more importantly, in ODIs. He compared Gerald to Liam Plunkett, who played a similar role during England's 2019 World Cup victory, and sees Gerald fulfilling a similar function if he remains healthy and fit.

Two players without international experience, Duan Jansen and Ethan Bosch, have been included in the fifteen-man Proteas squad for a baseball tour in Namibia at the end of this month.

Duan Jansen, twin brother of Proteas all-rounder Marco, received his first international call-up after an impressive domestic performance. At 26 years old, he has consistently performed in both formats of baseball and was named Player of the Year of the One-Day Cup season 2025/26. He helped the Titans team win the title in a 50-over match, scoring an unbeaten 61 runs in the final against DP World Lions.

He continued to show similar form during a short stint in the English County Championship, where he performed particularly well for Gloucester in the T20 Blast.

International Cricket

The team captain, Lions spinner Bjorn Fortuin, will lead the Proteas squad, which will face Namibia and Zimbabwe in a T20 International (T20I) three-series from August 28 to September 6 at the Namibian cricket ground in Windhoek. The team will then stay in the capital for a three-match ODI series against the host nation from September 9 to 13, which will be the first 50-over series in history between the two countries.

Bosch was previously called up for a tour to New Zealand earlier this year but had to decline due to a hamstring injury. After recovering, he played for Middlesex CC in the English County Championship and the T20 Blast.

The squad also includes batters Connor Esterhuizen (Lions) and Jordan Herman (Dafabet Warriors), as well as seamer Nqobani Mokoena from Dolphins, who received their first ODI call-ups following impressive performances in T20Is in New Zealand. Esterhuizen earned two Player of the Match awards in New Zealand before winning the Player of the Series award for his batting performances.

Head coach Shukri Conrad stated that they selected one squad for both series because they believe all departments are well represented, providing a great opportunity for players to build their international experience. He noted that they saw glimpses of potential in Connor and Nqobani during the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year. He added that it is a shame Jordan sustained an injury in the first match of this series, so they look forward to seeing him at this level again.

Conrad emphasized that this tour opens doors for players who have performed domestically, naming Duan as one such player. He described him as a quality all-rounder who also demonstrated excellent character for Titans. Furthermore, he noted that Bjorn is an experienced and proven leader, having successfully captained Lions, and they have full confidence in his ability to lead this group.

Conrad also added that it is always interesting to play against neighboring countries, and the first ODI series between South Africa and Namibia adds extra significance, especially ahead of next year's World Cup. The squad is strengthened by the inclusion of players on national contracts: Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, and Kwena Maphaka.

Proteas Squad for Namibia Tour

The squad includes Bjorn Fortuin (captain), Ethan Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Herman, Rubin Herman, Duan Jansen, Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Jason Smith, and Prenelan Subraen.