South Africa v/s Australia: Proteas announce Test squad, Heinrich Klaasen earns call-up

The uncapped pair of Heinrich Klaasen and Wiaan Mulder have been named in the 15-man South Africa squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia, beginning March 1 at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban.

While wicketkeeper-batsman Klaasen recently notched 69 runs from 30 balls in South Africa’s six-wicket win over India in T20I, 20-year-old Mulder has played a single ODI against Bangladesh at East London in October 2017.

Reflecting on Klaasen’s inclusion, Cricket South Africa (CSA) selector Linda Zondi said that the 26-year-old has been tremendously impressive in the white-ball matches and that they are expecting a similar kind of performance in the five-day format.

“Klaasen has been tremendously impressive in the white-ball matches he has played for the Proteas and we firmly believe he can become just as good a player in the five-day format,” cricket.com.au quoted Cricket Zondi, as saying.

Klaasen will also serve as a back up to incumbent gloveman Quinton de Kock, who has returned to the squad after recovering from a wrist injury. “He has averaged nearly 50 with the bat in Sunfoil four-day cricket this season and hit two centuries.We are also keen to have a back-up wicketkeeper to De Kock …read more