Pretorius, Senokwane, Yusuf earn maiden Test call-ups

PROTEAS Men's head coach Shukri Conrad has named a 16-player squad for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, set to take place at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from 28 June - 10 July.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

Test captain Temba Bavuma will lead the group that includes five uncapped players. Among the new faces are Momentum Multiply Titans batting duo Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Lesego Senokwane, both of whom have received their maiden call-ups to the national setup.

They are joined in the squad by another first-timer DP World Lions fast bowler Codi Yusuf.

At just 19, Pretorius enjoyed a breakout season in the CSA 4-Day Series. He struck three hundreds in five first-class games at an impressive average of 72.66, including a crucial 114 in the final that helped secure a hard-fought draw for the Titans against the Lions.

Senokwane also impressed with the bat, amassing 559 runs with two centuries to his name. Both players also recently made their South Africa A (SA 'A') debuts against West Indies A.

Yusuf, meanwhile, has been a standout performer for the Lions.

The right-arm seamer claimed 23 wickets at an average of 22.39, playing a pivotal role in guiding his side to a second successive appearance in the 4-Day Series final.