South Africa Faces Major Setback as Anrich Nortje Ruled Out of Champions Trophy

Tags: Champions Trophy 2025,
South Africa,
Anrich Nortje

Published on: Jan 16, 2025

South Africa’s hopes for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy have taken a significant hit with the withdrawal of star fast bowler Anrich Nortje due to a back injury. Nortje, who has not featured in international cricket since the T20 World Cup in June 2024, was poised to make his return during the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan. However, a toe injury sustained during practice sidelined him, and subsequent scans revealed that he would be unable to recover in time for the marquee tournament.

This marks the third instance in which Nortje has been ruled out of an ICC ODI tournament due to injury. He missed the 2019 World Cup after breaking his thumb and was absent from the 2023 edition due to a suspected stress fracture in his lower back. While Nortje has been a consistent presence in South Africa’s T20 World Cup campaigns from 2021 to 2024, his participation in ODIs has been sporadic, with his last appearance dating back to September 2023.

Coetzee Likely Replacement

With Nortje’s absence confirmed, attention now turns to his probable replacement, Gerald Coetzee. The 23-year-old recently returned to action for the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 League after recovering from a groin injury sustained during the Durban Test against Sri Lanka in November 2024. Coetzee was initially in contention for the Champions Trophy squad but was edged out by Nortje due to the latter’s experience.

South Africa’s white-ball coach and selector, Rob Walter, expressed his trust in Nortje’s professionalism and fitness when announcing the initial squad. “He’s an ultimate professional. He looks after himself and takes care of his conditioning,” Walter remarked earlier this week. However, Nortje’s latest setback forced a change in plans, with Walter likely to turn to Coetzee to bolster the pace attack.

Persistent Injury Woes

South Africa’s fast-bowling department has been plagued by injuries throughout the summer. Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder recently returned to action after recovering from groin and finger injuries, respectively. However, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams remain sidelined for the season with long-term injuries.

Nortje’s withdrawal not only leaves a gap in the squad but also highlights the challenges of managing player workloads in a demanding international schedule. The bowler, who has opted out of a national contract to prioritize his fitness and manage his workload, has not played Test cricket since March 2023.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setback, South Africa will aim to remain competitive in the Champions Trophy with a revamped pace attack. The team’s fortunes may hinge on how effectively they adapt to the absence of one of their most experienced bowlers.

As the Proteas prepare to announce Nortje’s replacement, fans and analysts alike will be eager to see if the team can overcome this hurdle and deliver a strong performance in the tournament.