Erwee earns maiden Proteas call-up
Hollywoodbets Dolphins opening batsman Sarel Erwee has earned a maiden Proteas call-up when he will meet up with the squad ahead of the test series against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park.
The left-hander has been a consistent performer for the Dolphins through all formats of the game but has shone at the top of the order for the Durban-based franchise.
Thirty-one-year-old Erwee has enjoyed a long period of consistently good performances which have culminated into his call-up for this tour, not least of which was his 199 in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ CSA 4-Day Domestic Series season-opener against the Imperial Lions last month. He averages 60,28 with 469 runs in eight innings so far in the competition.
The other Dolphins players in the squad are seasoned campaigner Keshav Maharaj as well as top order batsman Keegan Petersen. Petersen has been involved with the Proteas before but hasn't made his test debut yet.
Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius are not yet fit enough for the physical exertions of Test cricket as a result of injuries picked up during the England tour. They and one or two other players being considered by the Selectors will go through assessments in the next few days to see whether they will be fit enough to be added to the squad ahead of the second match. An update will be provided next week.
Glenton Stuurman and Kyle Verreynne have received maiden Proteas Test call-ups asl well for the tour, while the latter’s former South Africa under-19s captain, Wiaan Mulder, makes a return to the national team after a period of prolonged injury kept him out of action.
The visitors made history in February 2019, when they became the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa after emphatically beating the hosts 2-0. They are currently in fifth place on WTC the points table with 27 matches played and South Africa is sixth with 23 matches played.
“It goes without saying that we are very excited about the choices we have made for the Test squad,” Mpitsang continued. “The individuals in the team are a testament to the fact that hard work will bring its rewards and the Selection Panel, and I are eager to see what the new call-ups have to offer.
“While we may be on the “young” side in terms of Test cricket experience, we believe that the team will more than make up for it when put to the test, so to speak. South Africa is fortunate to boast a lot of depth thanks to our cricket pipeline, and places for every spot in our national teams are highly contested. It has not been an easy task to bring it down to this final squad of 15.
“This series is particularly important for our ICC World Test Championship campaign and the crucial points that it comes with.
“We are looking forward to what promises to be a competitive series and getting a good look at the players that we have in hand. Our last home Test encounter against Sri Lanka did not end in our favour and we are keen to see an emergence of the potential we know this team holds.
“Test cricket is a career pinnacle for every player and is the culmination of many years of hard work and graft, so we know we will not have a shortage of dedication from the players who will don the green cap. I wish Mark Boucher, Quinton de Kock, the team and its support staff all the best for this important tour,” Mpitsang concluded.
Proteas Test squad against Sri Lanka:
Quinton de Kock (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (Imperial Lions), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Dean Elgar (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Glenton Stuurman (Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (Imperial Lions), Keegan Petersen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kyle Verreynne (Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras).
Betway Test Series vs Sri Lanka
Saturday, 26-30 December 2020 at 10:00 SAST:
1st Betway Test match (WTC) South Africa v Sri Lanka, SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sunday, 03-07 January 2021 at 10:00 SAST:
2nd Betway Test match (WTC) South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
