Sarel Erwee or Zubayr Hamza will replace Keegan Petersen at No 3 in the Proteas Test team, according to captain Dean Elgar.

Petersen was unable to travel to New Zealand after testing positive for Covid-19 and replaced in the squad by Hamza. Erwee was named in the original squad.

In three 4-Day Domestic Series innings for the Dolphins this season, Erwee has made 258 runs at an average of 86.00 with one hundred (163) and a fifty. He also top-scored for South Africa A in the series against India A with 251 runs at 50.20 with two fifties (75 and 97).

Hamza, meanwhile, has scored 253 runs in seven 4-Day Domestic Series innings at 36.14, including a highest score of 94. For SA A, he made 172 runs at 57.33 with one century (125*).

“Sarel Erwee has been our backup batter for quite some time and he’s had a few series where he’s been carrying the drinks,” Elgar said.

“He’s been brilliant for us off the field and I would love to think he’d be the one guy who would be coming in.

“In saying that, we have Hamza in to replace KP in the 17 and we also need to see what’s the best option going into these Tests.

“It’s also another opportunity for another person in the squad to make a play for the team and give the selectors a bit of a headache with a good performance.”

Elgar’s comments suggest the in-form Ryan Rickelton will have to wait a bit longer to make his Test debut.