The 21-year-old Coetzee has been named in the T20 International squad and he could play with Kagiso Rabada being rested for the tour.

In 2018, Coetzee was named as one of three South Africans in the team of the tournament for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup that was staged in New Zealand. The other two were the batter Raynard van Tonder and wicketkeeper, Wandisile Makwetu. 

Both played with Coetzee and the Knights up until last season. Van Tonder is still at the Knights, while Makwetu has since joined the Lions.

Earlier in the year, Coetzee has a taste of international cricket by being selected for the South Africa A that toured Zimbabwe. At one stage he was the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in Harare.

The Knights coach, JP Triegaardt, told OFM Sport that for Coetzee it’s a dream come true.

“We as a team, as a union and as a province are pretty much excited and happy for Gerald to be called up to the national set up.

“If I can talk on behalf of Gerald - we just had the chat today, where he was a little of nine years old and he always dreamt of playing for the Proteas. His dream is coming true.

“I can imagine that he has a lot of emotions.”

The first T20 International between England and South Africa will be played on 27 July in Bristol.

Proteas T20 squad to tour England - David Miller (captains), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortjé, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport