Dane Piedt has been called up to the Proteas squad as a potential spin option to play in the third Test in Hamilton next week.

The off-spinner is awaiting approval of his visa and is expected to join the group this weekend, with the idea of bolstering his side’s spin stocks for the third Test starting on 25 March.

Contrary to their initial beliefs, Seddon Park in Hamilton proved to be a useful track for the spinners in the ODI series, so the selectors, who initially picked six seamers, have opted to follow New Zealand’s path of picking two spinners.

Piedt, the Cobras captain, was given the nod ahead of Tabraiz Shamsi, who was taken on South Africa’s Test tour to Australia and played in the day-night Test in Adelaide, and Imran Tahir, who has not played a Test since 2015.

It comes off the back of a challenging season for the 27-year-old, who almost opted to sign a Kolpak deal in the midst of the on- and off-field drama surrounding the Cobras during the Sunfoil Series season, which saw Ashwell Prince replace the out-of-favour Paul Adams halfway through the campaign.

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