In an impressive display of talent, Lhuan-dre Pretorius made history during the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Saturday. At just 19 years and 93 days old, he became the youngest cricketer to score 150 runs in Test cricket, surpassing the previous record held by Javed Miandad, who achieved 163 runs at the age of 19 years and 119 days in 1976.
Pretorius’s remarkable innings showcased not only his potential but also marked him as the youngest South African batter to score a century on his Test debut. With his hundred coming off just 112 balls, it was the fastest debut century recorded for South Africa. Furthermore, he powered his way to 150 runs in just 157 balls, breaking the previous South African record held by AB de Villiers, who took 162 balls to reach the same milestone. This achievement makes Pretorius’s 150 the second fastest by any debutant in Test history, just behind Shikhar Dhawan’s record of 131 balls.
Additionally, Pretorius joined an elite group of players, becoming one of only four cricketers to score a century on both their Test debut and their first-class debut. He had previously hit 120 on his first-class debut against the Warriors last December.
Dewald Brevis, another rising star, made headlines as well during this match by scoring a half-century in just 38 balls, the fastest by a South African debutant. This remarkable performance was complemented by a notable 95-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Pretorius and Brevis, setting a new record for the highest partnership between two debutants for South Africa in men’s Tests.
Pretorius’s record-breaking performance, alongside Brevis’s rapid scoring, not only highlights the promising future of South African cricket but also brings hope for a revival in their international standing. This youthful talent showcases the depth of skill emerging from the nation, offering a bright outlook for future cricketing endeavors.