Pieter Malan is on standby to become the 100th Protea since readmission if he is selected to replace the potentially injured Aiden Markram in the final Test against Pakistan. 

The Cobras opener was announced as a standby replacement on Wednesday when Dean Elgar was announced as stand-in captain for the suspended Faf du Plessis.

ALSO READ: Elgar named Proteas stand-in captain

It was understood that Zubayr Hamza would come in as Du Plessis’ replacement and become the 100th Protea, but with the announcement that Pieter Malan could also be a debutant at the Wanderers.

Malan being an opening batsman, means that he will be first on the scorecard above Hamza who will be lower down the order, making Malan debutant 100 and Hamza 101.

ALSO READ: Hamza set to be 100th Test Protea

The 29-year-old has been a fan-favourite for a potential Proteas call-up ever since his breakthrough season for the Cobras in 2017-18, where he finished as the third-highest run scorer with 892 runs in 10 matches.

His form continued in the 2018-19 season, where has scored three centuries and three half-centuries in six matches thus far, as the Cobras sit comfortably on the top of the 4-Day Franchise Series log.

Malan has the amazing ability to play a gritty knock as well as turn up the scoring rate when a boost is needed. His technical ability and fight make him perfectly suited to be an opener in the longest format.

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