Klaasen replaces Second in Proteas Test squad

18 August 2019 - 14:18
By Telford Vice
Heinrich Klaasen gets his 50 during the Momentum One-Day Cup match between Hollywoodbets Dolphins and Multiply Titans at Kingsmead Stadium on March 15, 2019 in Durban, South Africa.
Image: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images Heinrich Klaasen gets his 50 during the Momentum One-Day Cup match between Hollywoodbets Dolphins and Multiply Titans at Kingsmead Stadium on March 15, 2019 in Durban, South Africa.

Heinrich Klaasen has been given what might be called a Second chance — courtesy of Rudi.

Wicketkeeper-batter Klaasen played the most recent of his 23 white-ball games for South Africa’s men’s teams in February‚ and was not involved in the World Cup.

But on Saturday he was called up for the Test series in India in October.

Klaasen replaces Rudi Second‚ who was ruled out with what a Cricket South Africa (CSA) release described only as “an injury while practising with the South Africa A side that will require immediate surgery”.

“Klaasen is part of the one-day squad for the South Africa A tour and he will now be added to the squad in Second’s place for the four-day series that will assist his preparation for the Proteas Test series‚” the release quoted CSA acting director of cricket Corrie van Zyl as saying.

Second was one of three uncapped players named in the original Test squad‚ while Klaasen has yet to make his Test debut.

South Africa A will play five one-day matches and two four-day games against their Indian counterparts between August 29 and September 20.

The senior side take on India on September 15 in the first of three T20s‚ with the three-match Test series scheduled to end on October 23.