Hampshire has signed 18-year-old South African opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius as one of their overseas players for the 2025 Vitality Blast. Although uncapped at the senior level for South Africa, Pretorius was the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded SA20. The hard-hitting left-hander, who also keeps wicket, made his T20 debut last year after a strong performance for South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup. He currently averages 27.60 with a strike rate of 147.17 in T20 cricket.
Pretorius caught the attention of Hampshire coach Adi Birrell when he scored 97 off 51 balls for Paarl Royals against Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, where Birrell also serves as head coach. Pretorius expressed excitement about joining Hampshire, calling it an honor to play in England for the first time and looking forward to playing alongside talented teammates in pursuit of the Vitality Blast title. Hampshire, winners of the Blast in 2022, finished seventh in the South Group last season, missing the knockout stages for the first time in four years. Director of cricket Giles White praised Pretorius as a special talent with a bright future, highlighting his performances against top bowlers in the SA20.
Meanwhile, Somerset has confirmed the return of allrounder Migael Pretorius for the 2025 season. The 29-year-old, who made eight County Championship appearances in 2024, scored 338 runs and took 23 wickets. Pretorius expressed excitement about rejoining Somerset, aiming to help the team secure a trophy after coming close last season. Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, emphasized Pretorius’ ability to impact games and strengthen the team’s seam attack across all formats, noting the importance of squad depth for the demanding season ahead.
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