• Confident Coetzee going to get better – Simons

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    Joburg Super Kings assistant coach Eric Simons says fast bowler Gerald Coetzee “has unwavering faith in his abilities”.

    The 22-year-old was the second-highest wicket-taker in the inaugural SA20, with 17 in nine matches at an average of 13.52 and an economy rate of 8.07.

    That came after he had toured Australia with the Proteas, taking a hat-trick in the warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI, and while he didn’t make his Test debut Down Under, it’s a matter of time before he does.

    “Gerald has great potential. I think that’s rather obvious,” Simons told News24 Sport.

    “And, like any bowler his age, there still a lot that can be worked on in terms of technical refinement. No one should be discouraged by that reality. He’s going to get better.”

    Simons says Coetzee has “strong opinions about the game already”, which isn’t usually the case for most sportsman his age.

    “He knows who he is and he has his views on the game. You don’t have to agree with a person’s view to respect it. That’s what I enjoy about Gerald, he’ll listen but won’t accept implicitly. He’ll question too.

    “Part of his penchant for having strong views comes from his confidence. Gerald is a very confident young man, almost to the extent that he has unwavering faith in his abilities. And that’s no bad thing, believe me.

    “Because of that, he was always the first guy to put up his hand to do the tough jobs. He was the guy who was willing to bowl to a shorter-length plan at the Wanderers in one of our games, and volunteered to bowl with the short boundary at St George’s Park, where he finished with four wickets.

    “It’s a part of Gerald’s psyche that needs to be cherished and managed. It’s not something you can instil as a coach, that’s inherent to someone.”

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    Simon Borchardt