Yusuf prepares for 'most important game' of his career after maiden call-up to Proteas

Now that the ICC World Test Championship celebrations are over, the Proteas Test team switch focus to this week’s first of two Test matches against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The series falls outside the new World Test Championship cycle. However, it still carries significant weight as South Africa’s fringe players will get a taste of Test cricket, further widening the talent pool for head coach Shukri Conrad to choose from for the 14 Tests that lie ahead in the new cycle.

Five key Test players will be rested for the series, including Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen. In addition, captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the WTC final at Lord’s earlier this month.

With most of the experienced heads sitting out the Zimbabwe tour, the likes of Codi Yusuf have earned their maiden Test call-ups, alongside Lesego Senokwane and Lhuan-dré Pretorius.

Yusuf, who enjoyed an impressive domestic season for the Lions and a stint with Durham in the County Championship, is well aware of the magnitude of the opportunity.

“I would say this is probably the most important game in my career so far,” Yusuf told Independent Media. “I haven’t had a taste of international cricket yet, but it would be unbelievable to go and make a mark there and show people that I can perform at the highest level.

"I personally believe in myself and feel like I can do that, and I know a lot of other people do as well. I know Shuks does as well, and that’s why he would have chosen me to be part of his squad.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the game and on the moment, but it would definitely be up there as probably the most important game in my career so far.”

Yusuf has enjoyed a career-defining few months — going from being omitted from the South Africa ‘A’ squad for the Caribbean tour and instead named in the South Africa Emerging team for the Bangladesh tour, to playing county cricket in the UK, and now earning a spot in the Test squad.

The 27-year-old was in the UK when he received a message from Proteas team manager Volvo Masubelele, followed by a phone call from Conrad himself to inform him of his maiden Test selection.

Like any youngster receiving a long-awaited call-up, Yusuf shared the news with his family.

“It’s very weird how things can change and how quickly things can happen,” said Yusuf.

"I was supposed to be in that Emerging squad. I had applied for my visas, and just before everything got finalised, Durham came along for me to come play some county cricket. That on its own was a very proud moment for me, my family and also a very proud moment for my wife

“Shuks gave me a call after I had played about four County games and asked me how the UK was going? He asked if I was still there. I was like, 'yeah, it’s good. I’m enjoying my time'.

“Actually, Volvo first sent me a message, and I was like, okay, maybe there’s some sort of sniff coming my way. I think it was about two minutes later when Shuks gave me a call.

“Shuks told me that I’d been chosen to be part of the squad travelling to Zimbabwe. He just wished me congratulations and told me that I’m deserving of the opportunity and that he looks forward to having me involved in the squad.

“I was at my house when that happened, and as soon as I got off that call, I called my wife and we spoke about it — she was over the moon — and then shortly after that, I called my parents.

"They were also over the moon. My family members were there as well, and there was just a lot of cheering and celebration on the phone.

“It’s been a dream for me to play for my country, so when I got that call, I was like, oh wow, okay, this is really happening. I’m very excited to get into that environment and see what it’s about, and experience what it’s like playing at an international level,” he concluded.

Proteas Test squad for Tour of Zimbabwe

Keshav Maharaj (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf.