Paterson fills in for Pretorius
CAPE Cobras seamer Dane Paterson has been drafted as cover for Dwaine Pretorius in the Proteas T20 and ODI squad for this month’s tour of New Zealand.
Pretorius, the Highveld Lions all-rounder and man of the match in Saturday’s Pink Day ODI at the Wanderers‚ is set to miss the sole T20 international against New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park on February 17 and the first ODI at Hamilton’s Seddon Park two days later due to his wife expecting a child.
South Africa will take part in four further ODIs in Christchurch‚ Wellington‚ Napier and Auckland until March 4, as preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England in June.
Selector convener Linda Zondi said Paterson’s continued improvement in the past two seasons made him impossible to leave out and building depth was also key for the squad in preparation for the Champions Trophy.
Paterson will fly out with the squad on Saturday evening and will return to South Africa when Pretorius again joins the team.
The rest of the squad remains unchanged, while Lungi Ngidi will remain in the country to complete his rehabilitation programme. David Miller‚ who has missed the rest of the Sri Lanka ODI series with a finger injury‚ will be part of the squad.
“Dane will go with the squad when they leave on Saturday and will return to South Africa once Dwaine joins the squad,” Zondi said.
“As selectors, we are happy with the way the squad has gelled over the past six months and consistency in selection is very important as we continue our build-up towards the ICC Champions Trophy tournament.
“New Zealand are playing very good cricket at the moment and, as always, will provide very tough opposition‚ particularly under their home conditions.”