In a major blow to South Africa, speedster Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the 2025 Champions Trophy with a back injury. According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), the pacer Anrich Nortje underwent scans on Monday to reveal the extent of the injury. Anrich Nortje missed Wednesday’s SA20 game for Paarl Royals against MI Cape Town and is likely to be sidelined for a significant period.
South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy and the rest of the SA20, due to a back injury. Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed the news on Wednesday. Anrich Nortje’s injury was revealed after he underwent scans on Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, his recovery period won’t allow him to feature in the Champions Trophy where South Africa face Afghanistan in their opening match in Karachi on February 21.
Anrich Nortje’s injury history and potential replacement
It was only on Monday that South Africa announced their squad for the tournament. Anrich Nortje, who hasn’t played international cricket since June last year, was the major talking point.
Injuries have often come at the worst possible moments for Anrich Nortje. Anrich Nortje has been on a break from red-ball cricket to build his fitness after suffering a stress fracture in his back in 2023, which had kept him out of the last ICC ODI event — the World Cup. Anrich Nortje missed the 2019 edition due to a broken thumb. He looked in sublime form in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and Barbados and was seen notching vintage speeds in franchise cricket, too.
Anrich Nortje is not in line to recover ahead of the 50-over tournament, which the Proteas will begin on 21 February against Afghanistan in Karachi, Pakistan. South Africa will announce his replacement in due course. Anrich Nortje also missed South Africa’s previous participation in an ICC event – the Cricket World Cup in 2023 in India – due to a stress fracture in his back. The 31-year-old’s steady variation, bounce and pace have been pivotal in South Africa’s pace unit in the white-ball format, proven by his 36 wickets in 22 ODIs and 53 wickets in 42 T20Is.
The right-arm speedster’s last outing in the ODI format came over 15 months ago, in the Proteas’ second ODI against Australia in Bloemfontein. South Africa has largely stuck with the core group that powered them to the semi-finals of the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup, retaining 10 of the 15 players for the Champions Trophy. The squad sees fresh additions in Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder, all set to make their debut at a 50-over ICC event.
Anrich Nortje was picked for South Africa’s white-ball series against Pakistan last month but broke his toe from a David Miller yorker while training in the nets.
CSA said the pacer is ‘not expected to recover in time’ for the tournament. South Africa’s first match is against Afghanistan in Karachi on February 21. CSA hasn’t immediately announced a replacement but said they’d do so in due course.
Gerald Coetzee To Be The Likely Replacement For Anrich Nortje
According to Cricbuzz, pace all-rounder Gerald Coetzee is the front-runner to replace Anrich Nortje in the squad. Coach Rob Walter had already put the duo on the same pedestal when announcing the squad.
“Gerald Coetzee played very well in the 2023 World Cup, but it was between him and Anrich Nortje. They offer high pace, both of them. Anrich has more experience and attributes that will stand us in good stead in Pakistan. Gerald has done nothing wrong to not be selected,” he had said.
The 2025 Champions Trophy will start on February 19 and will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. This will be the tournament’s return after an eight-year gap, with the last one being held in 2017. Pakistan, the current trophy holders, are eyeing to defend their title in this year’s competition. Temba Bavuma would want South Africa to go all the way this time.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who signed Anrich Nortje as their pace spearhead for Rs 6.50 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, don’t have the same luxury as the Proteas. KKR has always had a penchant for an overseas rapid pacer leading their attack — which Mitchell Starc did so brilliantly last season. Now, if Anrich Nortje’s injury rules him out of the IPL (which will begin in March) too, the defending champions would hope that Australia’s left-arm quick Spencer Johnson and Umran Malik come good for them in 2025.