Coetzee was not selected for the upcoming tour to Namibia, but will instead feature for South Africa ‘A’ in the four-day series against Bangladesh ‘A’, as well as the unofficial One-Day International series.

The 25-year-old quick last represented South Africa on the tour of New Zealand in March, where he played in all five T20 Internationals against the Black Caps and claimed eight wickets.

Gerald Coetzee - Cricinfo

He was subsequently included in the South Africa ‘A’ squad for the tour of England, where he featured in the unofficial ODIs in Leicester and Worcester.

While Coetzee is not currently part of Conrad’s immediate Proteas plans, the national coach remains firmly in the fiery fast bowler’s corner.

Conrad believes the St Andrew’s School old boy still has a significant role to play for South Africa across all three formats, provided he can put his injury troubles behind him.

“So again, these conversations started when I was in the UK, and Gerald joined the A squad there. He’s obviously got a burning desire to get into the Proteas, both Test and ODI side,” said Conrad.

“As you rightly say, his history is chequered with injuries. He needs to learn to trust his body and, in turn, we then get to trust him.

“I mean, we all know what Gerald’s capable of. I’ve always been a huge fan of Gerald, so much so that when I took over the Test job, he was one of the first guys in for me. And nothing’s changed insofar as I see him and what he can bring to the party.

Gerald Coetzee took eight wickets in the March tour of New Zealand - Cricinfo

“I can tell you now, he was offered another gig in the UK and he pretty much asked me to play in the A side rather than go and play in the UK because he wants to impress, you know, and I think that’s a wonderful start.

“When you’ve got a Gerald Coetzee that’s hungry to impress, we’re all hopeful that those injuries, catastrophic as you call them, are something of the past. And if there were to be another one going forward, that it would be a needle more than anything else.

“Gerald forms a huge part of our pace attack going forward. He’s got genuine pace. We’ve seen the value of someone with pace, both in the Test side, but also, more importantly, in the ODI side.

Gerald Coetzee has become famous for his emotional celebrations - Cricinfo

“If I go back to England and when they won the World Cup in England, I thought the unsung hero for them was someone like Liam Plunkett, who ran in and bowled in the middle periods with that pace and bounce. And I see Gerald doing a similar job if he’s fit and firing.

“So, a huge part of our thinking going forward. I’m hopeful that the injury woes are something of the past and that he can put his best foot forward and compete for the Proteas in all formats again.”

Coetzee’s next opportunity to make his mark will come with South Africa ‘A’. For Coetzee, the A-team assignment represents another chance to build momentum, regain consistency and remind the national selectors of the raw pace and aggression that have made him one of South Africa’s most exciting fast-bowling prospects.

Gerald Coetzee and the Proteas ahead of the 2nd ODI against Australia, in his hometown, Bloemfontein - Cricinfo

And, judging by Conrad’s comments, the door to the Proteas remains firmly open.

The first unofficial Test against Bangladesh ‘A’ gets underway in Pretoria on 23 August, with the second four-day encounter scheduled for 30 August at the NWC Oval in Potchefstroom.

The unofficial ODI series then moves to Bloemfontein, with the opening match at the Mangaung Oval on 6 September. The second and third matches will be played in Kimberley and Potchefstroom respectively.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport