Anrich Nortje Ruled Out SA20 And Champions Trophy
South African cricket has suffered a setback with Anrich Nortje’s back injury ruling him out of the Champions Trophy. It was intended for him to return in the series against Pakistan, which is also white-ball. However, he broke a toe in the nets, and he ended up not playing for either the Pretoria Capitals or the South African brand of T20 cricket against Australia. A replacement for the Champions Trophy will be named by South Africa.
The most serious candidate to replace him will be Gerald Coetzee, who has returned to the Joburg Super Kings after sustaining a groin injury in Sri Lanka’s Test against Durban last November. Rob Walter, SA’s white-ball coach also the only selector for his squads, explained the initial call was between Coetzee and Nortje. He decided to lean on Nortje’s experience rather than Coetzee’s. He expressed full confidence that an “all-out professional” would be fit for the tournament. “He looks after himself, takes care of his conditioning. From my side I’m trusting him and trusting that he’ll be ready to go,” Walter said on Monday.
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In a press release issued less than 48 hours later, however, it clarified that he was scanned on Monday afternoon and “not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.”
In the past six ICC events, this is the third time Nortje has been injured, and each time was in an ODI tournament. He was in good shape to play at the 2019 World Cup but broke his thumb shortly before the game. He had to miss the 2023 World Cup because of a suspected lower back stress fracture and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Throughout all three T20 World Cups, he was available – 2021, 2022, and 2024 – but didn’t renew a national contract to help him in managing his workload. His last ODI appearance was in September and last Test match was in March of 2023.
Of all the wounds this summer to the fast bowling contingent in South Africa, none beat the brutality of this one. While Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi (both groin), and Wiaan Mulder (broken finger) already returned to play, Nandre Burger (lower back stress fracture) and Lizaad Williams (knee) are out of action for the season.
