Lhuan-dre Pretorius ready to rebound against New Zealand after debut duck
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who made history with a record-breaking 153 on Test debut, aims to rebound from a T20 debut duck against New Zealand in the Tri-Series. Picture: Nokwanda Zondi / BackpagePix
Image: Nokwanda Zondi / BackpagePix
Seldom has there been a player who has experienced a more contrasting couple of debuts in different formats of cricket than Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
The teenager announced his arrival on the international stage with a swashbuckling, record-breaking 153 on debut in the first Test against hosts Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last month.
At 19 years and 93 days, Pretorius became the youngest to ever achieve the feat for South Africa, beating out the legendary Graeme Pollock, who held the previous record when he achieved it at 19 years and 317 days in 1964.
The big-hitting left-hander was not yet, though, as he went on to become the youngest-ever Test player to score 150 or over, beating another legend - Sachin Tendulkar. When he was finally out for 153, Pretorius had faced just 160 ball as he struck 11 fours and six maximums.
Pretorius Aims for Redemption in T20 Tri-Series Against New Zealand
Flash forward to the first T20 International in his debut in the shortest format on Monday in Harare, and he was out for duck with the second delivery of the match (after slashing wildly at the first ball, which was called a wide).
Pretorius played another wild shot, striking the ball off the toe straight back to Richard Ngarava, who could not believe his luck as he took the catch.
On Wednesday, Pretorius - who has already made a name for himself in the SA20 - will get the chance to redeem himself against New Zealand in Harare in the second match of the Tri-Series.
Given the chance, Pretorius will want to show why he already boasts a strike-rate of 146 in T20 cricket and why it is probably his strongest format.