South Africa have called up uncapped seamer Dane Paterson to replace the injured Vernon Philander in the upcoming Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at Centurion.
Philander was ruled out of the opening Test of the three-match series with a fractured finger and that has opened the doors for 29-year-old Paterson.
Paterson has already played three ODIs and eight T20s for South Africa since making his debut against Sri Lanka in January last year.
“We have been looking at him (Paterson) for some time,” Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi was quoted as saying by Sport24.
“He is a bowler who has performed on the domestic scene consistently for a long time and he will be our back-up for the first Test,” Zondi added.
Philander is nursing a fractured finger.
In the absence of Philander, the Proteas are set to field a three-man pace attack comprising of Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn and Duanne Olivier and Paterson could be in the running should the hosts opt to play an extra seamer.
In 93 first-class matches so far, Paterson has picked up 321 wickets at an average just below 24.
While South Africa will be without their most potent seamer in Philander, Pakistan will have to make do without the services of the prolific Mohammad Abbas who looks set to miss out on the opening Test with injury.
The visitors warmed up for the upcoming Test battle with a six-wicket victory over a Cricket South Africa Invitational XI at Benoni in a warm up clash.