South Africa has announced its Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, featuring a blend of fresh talent and established players. Notably, 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius is among five uncapped players selected, reflecting an effort to build depth for the 2025-2027 cycle.
Pretorius, who has showcased his prowess with South Africa’s Under-19 team and an impressive 97 in his T20 franchise debut, is joined by Dewald Brevis, Lesego Senokwane, Codi Yusuf, and Prenelan Subrayen in line for Test debuts. These matches fall outside the World Test Championship due to Zimbabwe’s non-participation, offering coach Shukri Conrad a valuable chance to test new players.
Recognising Pretorius’s potential, selectors have looked beyond his limited first-class experience, marked by three centuries in his six matches and an average of 65.57. Brevis, meanwhile, earns another nod after leading the run charts at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup and performing consistently in domestic first-class cricket.
Speaking on Brevis’s selection, Conrad remarked, “Dewald deserves a lot of credit for how he has progressed over the past 12 months. He’s shown real growth and maturity in the longer format.”
In the domestic circuit, newcomer Senokwane impressed as the fourth-highest run-scorer, while Subrayen and Yusuf excelled as a spin-bowler and seamer, respectively. Conrad noted, “This tour provides the ideal platform to expose them to the demands of Test cricket.”
Aside from observing new talent, this series marks Zubayr Hamza’s return potential after past Test appearances from 2019 to 2024. However, quick bowlers Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, and Lizaad Williams are unavailable due to injuries, with Conrad outlining strategies for their return. He stated, “Nandre has the all-clear for T20s. We’ll gradually elevate him to longer formats.”
As South Africa prepares for its first Zimbabwe tour since 2014, the squad approaches this series with anticipation, balancing opportunity amid the juggling acts of physical fitness and game readiness.
