Fast bowler Migael Pretorius has earned a maiden call-up to the South Africa squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka at home, starting on Boxing Day (December 26) in Centurion.
With premier pacers Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius yet to be medically cleared to participate in the Betway Test Series against Sri Lanka, South Africa has decided to add the new face in Pretorius to their 16-member squad to bolster their pace attack for the upcoming home Tests.
He has earned his maiden international call on the back of his stunning ongoing domestic season. The pacer has 121 first-class wickets to his name and averages 25.44 with the bat so far.
The 25-year-old has had an exceptional season so far in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) 4-Day Domestic Cup under the coaching of Proteas legend Allan Donald.
The paceman from Vereeniging is currently third on the 4-Day Domestic Cup’s leading wicket-takers table with 19 scalps from five matches with best bowling figures of 7/102 against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins last month.
Pretorius is the fourth uncapped player after Sarel Erwee, Kyle Verreynne, and Glenton Stuurman who have been awarded maiden call-ups to the Proteas squad for the Sri Lanka Tests.
Announcing Pretorius's inclusion to the Test squad, CSA Convenor of Selectors, Victor Mpitsang said, “We’re pleased to include Migael Pretorius in the Proteas Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. We’re big on rewarding consistently good work and the player has done a lot to make a case for himself.”
Mpitsang signed off by saying, “We hope that this experience will be a great learning one for him and that this can serve as encouragement for players across the country, showing them that their chances may not be as far off as they think.”
Noteworthy, the South Africa Test squad will assemble in Pretoria on Saturday, December 19, to begin their preparation for the upcoming Betway Test Series against Sri Lanka.
Here's the South Africa Test squad:
Quinton de Kock (C-WK), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Beuran Hendricks, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Sarel Erwee, Anrich Nortje, Glenton Stuurman, Wiaan Mulder, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne, Migael Pretorius
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
