Lhuan-dre Pretorius achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest centurion in South Africa’s Test cricket history. Making his debut at the age of 19 years and 93 days, he scored an impressive 153 runs against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. This outstanding performance came on day one of the first Test, propelling the Proteas to a strong total of 418-9.
Pretorius’ record-breaking century surpassed the previous record held by the legendary Graeme Pollock, who scored 120 against Australia in Sydney back in December 1963 at the age of 19 years and 318 days. In addition to being the youngest South African centurion, Pretorius also ranks as the 10th youngest Test centurion worldwide, a list topped by Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful, who made a century at just 17 years and 61 days old.
Furthermore, Pretorius’s innings included the distinction of being the youngest player to reach 150 runs in a Test match, surpassing Javed Miandad’s record of 19 years and 119 days, a milestone he set in 1976 against New Zealand.
This achievement not only marks a significant moment in Pretorius’s career but also shines a positive light on South African cricket, showcasing the emerging talents in the sport. With such promising performances, it is clear that the future of South African cricket is bright.