Dwaine Pretorius replaces Steyn in South Africa Test squad

27-year-old Highveld Lions fast bowler Dwaine Pretorius has been named in the South Africa squad for the remainder of the Test series in Australia as a replacement for the injured Dale Steyn. Pretorius, who made his international debut in an ODI against Ireland in September, has been rewarded with a Test call-up following impressive performances for the Lions in the Sunfoil series.

Pretorius’s inclusion comes in the aftermath of the latest inclusion in a long list of injuries for the 33-year-old Steyn. The veteran fast bowler suffered a stress fracture to his right shoulder bone in the first innings of the Perth Test, which South Africa went on to win by 177 runs on Monday (November 7) despite playing with a bowler short for much of the game. With the injury set to sideline Steyn for up to six months, South Africa are looking to identify long-term replacements for their star seamer. They also have Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel in the squad available for use in Hobart.

In addition to his seam bowling, Pretorius offers more-than-capable batting abilities to a side looking to offset AB de Villiers’s loss through injury. Only last week, Pretorius became the first Lions player to score 90 or more runs in an innings and follow it up with a five-fer when he starred in the victory over the Warriors in a first class game in Johannesburg.

In all, Pretorius has featured in 36 first-class matches and taken 115 wickets at an average of 22.27. He also has 1963 first-class runs at an average of 43.62 with four centuries from these games. South Africa lead the three-match Test series 1-0 after beating the hosts by 177 at the WACA. The second Test starts at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Saturday (November 12).