Why potential debutant Sarel Erwee would be 'perfect' for Proteas

Keegan Petersen's Covid-19 pain might've been Sarel Erwee's gain for the Proteas Test tour to New Zealand, but there's enough evidence to suggest that the Dolphins opener could be an ideal replacement for his provincial team-mate.

The 32-year-old left-hander, who was included in the original squad though not expected to make the starting XI, is slated to bat at No 3 in the first Test starting in Christchurch early on Thursday after Petersen's agonising positive test for the virus didn't allow him to travel.

Petersen made a massive impression in the series victory over India last month, walking away with the Man of the Series award and being named ICC Player of the Month earlier this week.

Nonetheless, Erwee's credentials are rock solid, especially with South Africa's batting unit actively seeking to be more dogged at the crease.

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"Sarel's strength over the last few years is his ability to occupy the crease for a long time. He's a guy that can accumulate," Dean Elgar, the Proteas skipper, said on Wednesday. "He's someone that can bat time and that's seen him compile a lot of meaty scores on the domestic scene. Sarel's got the numbers behind the name. That's why he's here now."I see him as a guy who can very much fulfil the role of settling in and staying at the crease for a long time, similarly to the type of role that I'm picked for. You need that in Test cricket."

Erwee, who's on the cusp of having scored 6 000 runs in first-class cricket at an average just under 40, has been particularly prolific in red-ball cricket over the past two years.

Last season he finished the Dolphins' leading run-scorer in the domestic 4-Day Series with 569 runs at 47.41