Gerald Coetzee

Some Lesser Known Facts About Gerald Coetzee

• Gerald Coetzee is a South African cricketer who holds the record of taking the most wickets for a South African bowler in a single ODI World Cup. He has gained attention for his speed and displays of energy on the cricket field.

• He played rugby, tennis, and cricket with his elder brother in his backyard during his childhood. When he was seven, he played for the Under-9 F team in a KFC mini-cricket match which increased his interest in cricket.
  

  

  

• During his teenage years, he was impressed by Dale Steyn’s bowling skills and attitude and started following him. He later decided to become a professional cricketer.
  

  

  

• Gerald Coetzee played for several age group teams from 2012 to 2016 before his maiden call-up for the South Africa Under-19 team in 2017 when he was only 16. In the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, he took 8 wickets and hit 70 runs and represented the Under-19 team in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup.

  

• In 2019, batting coach Justin Sammons and Rassie van der Dussen spotted him in a domestic match and approached him with a contract for Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League which he accepted.

  

• Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed him up for the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) season as a replacement for Liam Livingstone.

  

• He showed his power-hitting capabilities in a match for South Africa A against Sri Lanka A in 2023 in which he hit 77 runs off 89 balls; when he came out to bat, the team’s score was 42 runs for 7 wickets.

  

• In the inaugural edition of the SA20 Tournament in 2023, he represented Joburg Super Kings and was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 13.53.

  

• He conceded 40 runs and took 1 wicket on his T20I debut.

  

• He took 3 wickets for 57 runs in his first ODI match. In the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India, he took 20 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 19.80, a strike rate of 19.05, and an economy rate of 6.24; his best performance was of taking 4 wickets for 44 runs against Afghanistan. He finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in a single edition of the ODI World Cup.

  

• Mumbai Indians (MI) acquired him for Rs 5 crore (approx R11.1 million) against the base price of Rs 2 crore in the 2023 auction for the 2024 IPL season.

• Gerald Coetzee wears jersey number 62 for South Africa which is a tribute to his father. Coetzee said in an interview that his father sacrificed many things in his life so that he could play cricket.

  

• In international tournaments, he mostly bats at number 8 position in the lower order of the South African national team.

• A few cricket experts and commentators have said that Gerald Coetzee could bowl fast due to his tall height and lanky and athletic build. His physique is one of the major reasons behind his bowling speed which has often been clocked more than 145 kph (90 mph). During the 2023 ODI World Cup, his fastest delivery was recorded at 149.9 kph which was a yorker delivery.

  

• He wears a black headband due to which his fans have given him the nickname ‘The Karate Kid.’ He talked about this in an interview and disclosed that he wears the headband to keep sweat away from his eyes and face as he sweats a lot while playing. He also used to keep a mullet hairstyle which he cut a few months before the 2023 ODI World Cup. ^[8]Facebook – Gerald Coetzee

  

• He is fond of dogs and owns two pet dogs.

  

• Gerald Coetzee said in an interview that he would have been playing baseball if he was not playing cricket.

• His training to recover from injuries includes weight training in the gym under his personal trainer Herman Liebenberg.

  

• Whenever he is free, he likes to do outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, trekking and camping.

  

• He is a supporter and fan of Orlando Pirates Football Club.

  

• He is signed up with Revolve Talent Management Agency as of January 2024. ^[9]Instagram – Gerald Coetzee