Gerald Coetzee grateful for impactful Proteas return in T20 series opener

Coetzee was speaking hot off an impressive performance in the green and gold, as he helped them beat New Zealand by 7 wickets in the first of five T20 Internationals at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui yesterday. He is part of a whole facelift on the team from the players who took part in the recent T20 World Cup, and knows the only way to cement his place is to give a hundred percent every time.

"I think South African cricket is in a very healthy place and we have a really great pool of players, so where am I in the pecking order? I dont really know. I am playing now, which is great, and I think that will be my focus – just to play where I can to do my best. You can always get better at something; there is no specific thing. In all facets you always try and get better and use every opportunity you get," said Coetzee

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South Africa bowled the home team out for a measly 91 runs in the first innings, and it was Coetzee who started the carnage by dismissing the two openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham inside the first three overs. While he agreed that those two wickets were important, he acknowledged the contributions of his fellow bowlers in restricting them to that total.

One of the stand-out performers on the day was debutant Nqobani Mokoena, who returned bowling figures of 3/26. Coetzee says the teenager played with the confidence that belied his age.

"Ja, I said it during the break that he looked like someone whose played fifty games already. He looks really calm. When he walked back if it went well or it was a ball that went for a boundary, he just looked composed and I think that's great signs."

The Proteas take a 1-0 lead into their next match in Hamilton tomorrow, but Coetzee has cautioned against complacency with a lot still to play for. He urged the team to move on from that result as soon as possible.