SA v SL 2019: Wiaan Mulder earns maiden Test call-up against Sri Lanka

Mulder called in as replacement for injured Lungi Ngidi.

Wiaan Mulder has played 8 ODIs for South Africa | Getty Images

Wiaan Mulder has earned maiden Test call up on Thursday (7th February) as Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the 14-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

Following the successful home campaign against Pakistan, South Africa is scheduled to hosts Sri Lanka in a full series comprising with two Tests, five One Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals starting with the first Test on 13 February at Kingsmead, Durban.

The 20-year-old all-rounder is yet to feature in Test cricket, but has played 8 ODIs since making debut against Bangladesh in 2017, though, he was forced to miss a majority of the Zimbabwe series in September-October 2018 due to an ankle injury, which ruled him out until this January.

After recovering from the injury, Mulder played three First-class matches in January for the Lions, scoring 146 against the Knights in his last game while picking up eight wickets in the earlier matches against Titans and Dolphins, which earned a Test call for him for the upcoming home series.

CSA National Selection Panel convener Linda Zondi said of Mulder, “Wiaan has been part of our strategic thinking in developing a batting all-rounder for the Test squad for some time. His injury in the white ball series against Zimbabwe last year came at an unfortunate time and we are gradually working him back into the Proteas set-up.”

Meanwhile, SA selectors are not in hurry to bring Lungi Ngidi back into the action, as he is still recovering from a knee injury, and continues to be on the sidelines.

Zondi signed off by saying, “We never want to rush players back from injury because that can be counter-productive, but he has now had a couple of good weeks of action in the 4-Day Domestic Series. For the same reason, we are not going to rush Lungi Ngidi back into international action until he has had the time to gain full match fitness.”

South Africa Test squad v Sri Lanka:
Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 07 Feb, 2019

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