Batting: Right hand batsman
Bowling: Right arm off-break
The selection of Dane Piedt as part of the South African test squad for the tour of India was an acknowledgement of the form that saw the Cape Cobras off-spinner take 11 wickets in the unofficial test series between South Africa and India A in 2015.
In the final test in Delhi, the off-spinner impressed by taking 4-117 in 38 economical overs. He captured four of the first six wickets to fall and his name was subsequently pencilled in as the only specialist spinner in the South African test squad for the first two matches of the series against England.
Piedt took eight for 152 on test debut for South Africa against Zimbabwe in 2014, but suffered a shoulder injury which curbed his progress.
Mentally and physically, he struggled to operate at maximum levels upon his return, but the two five-wicket hauls for South Africa A proved to all and sundry that he was on the comeback-trail.
A product of SACS, Piedt was a prominent member of the Western Province schools team in 2008.
The off-spinner and useful lower order batsman made his debut for Western Province in 2011/2012.
What makes Piedt unusual, is that he complements the regular art of turning the ball prodigiously into the right-hander, with the doosra (which means that the ball spins in the other direction to the regular off-break. It means the other one or the second one in Hindi and Urdu).
He also uses the arm ball to bamboozle batsmen.
Piedt was sensational in the 2013/2014-season. He captured 45 wickets in eight matches at an average of 19.93 and a strike-rate of 47.7.
His tally contributed a hat-trick against the Sunfoil Dolphins in Paarl.
Such was his impact, that Piedt attracted the attention of the national selectors.
He was included in the South African test squad for the series against Sri Lanka.
Piedt had to wait until the one-off test against Zimbabwe to make his test debut.
With his first delivery, he trapped Mark Vermeulen leg before wicket to become the second South African to achieve this feat in test cricket, and the first in 108 years.
It was the 19th time a bowler has had success with the first ball of his career in test history.
Afterwards, the 24-year old remarked that he had hardly used his doosra as a means to unsettle or outmanoeuvre the batsmen.
