Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Remember the name. The 19-year-old has made a superb start to Test cricket, becoming the first South African since Stephen Cook against England in 2016 to hit a century on debut. He is also the youngest Protea to score a Test century, full stop.
Pretorius walked in with South Africa in a spot of bother against Zimbabwe on a Bulawayo pitch offering assistance. The Proteas were reduced to 23/3 and then 55/4, before a terrific counterattack between he and fellow debutant Dewald Brevis allowed South Africa to get a foothold in the contest. Pretorius himself wasted no time getting going, smashed his fourth delivery for six.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a big stroke of luck when he was on 30. He was given not out after edging behind against Tanaka Chivanga. With no DRS available in this series, Zimbabwe could not review Richard Illingworth’s decision. However, the attacking left-hander played superbly nonetheless.
Pretrorius brought up his hundred off just 112 balls at a control percentage close to 90. He was particularly strong against the spinners, which allowed him to get into his groove at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. As he brought up his century, the Proteas went past 200 and can focus on shifting even more pressure back on Zimbabwe.
In the process, Lhuan-dre Pretorius became the sixth South African to make a century on Test debut, joining Andrew Hudson (vs WI, 1992), Jacques Rudolph (vs BAN, 2003), Alviro Petersen (vs IND, 2010), Stiaan van Zyl (vs WI, 2014) and Stephen Cook (vs ENG, 2016) in an exclusive list.
Reactions: Lhuan-dre Pretorius becomes sixth South African to score century on Test debut
Lhuan-dre Pretorius has already made a name for himself in T20 cricket, with 1,021 runs in 38 matches at a strike rate of 146.48. However, he has also been fantastic in First Class cricket, with 485 runs at 60.62 heading into this Test. This included three centuries.
“Hundred on Test debut for Lhuan-dre Pretorius. I understand he had a life, but he is a special talent. And he will hit a lot more sixes in T20 cricket,” wrote Bharath Ramaraj, Principal Correspondent at RevSportz.
“100 on First Class Debut, 100 in the First Class Final, 100 on Test debut. So lovely to see he [Lhuan-dre Pretorius] is hungry to make an impact in big moments!” wrote South Africa wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi on X, formerly Twitter.
Here are some of the reactions.
Pretorius survived another close caught behind shout off Brian Bennett on the stroke of tea. He went to the break not out on 128, making up more than half of South Africa’s 248/6. He was eventually dismissed for a magnificent 153 off 160 balls.
