Proteas fall-rounder McLaren says he wants to increase his caps after being awarded a new contract.
Ryan McLaren’s one and only Test appearance to date was in one of the most devastating pace attacks of recent years.
In 2010 he was brought in to an all-pace frontline that reduced England to less than 200 runs in both innings during the fourth Test in Johannesburg. South Africa levelled the series and both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel took seven wickets apiece.
McLaren only bowled 13 overs in the match, taking one wicket, with Paul Collingwood his victim. Despite producing far from a poor performance, McLaren has still struggled to get near the Test side since.
However, the all-rounder is now a key member of the one day and Twenty20 sides and his reward of a new CSA contract means that the selectors are thinking about giving him his second Test cap.
“I’d love to add to my one Test cap,” McLaren said to ESPNcricinfo.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about and working towards very hard.”
With the 30-year-old playing as an all-rounder, it is believed he could be the natural successor to Jacques Kallis, when the SA hero decides to bring his 18-year career to a close.
South Africa’s convener of selectors Andrew Hudson has already highlighted that McLaren is someone he views as a long-term replacement for Kallis.
Since August 2012 McLaren has been the preferred all-rounder behind Kallis, after his closest rival Albie Morkel fell out of favour after a string of injuries.
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