Alviro Petersen, a right-hand opening batsman, made his debut for Northerns in 2001. Impressive performances in his first two seasons saw him fast-tracked into the South Africa A side. However, it wasn't until 2006 that he made the step up to the national side, featuring in the home one-dayers against Zimbabwe. A fine 80 on his second appearance was overshadowed by a savage Mark Boucher century, and he did not don the South Africa colours again till the ODIs during the 2008 Bangladesh tour. He had a quiet series, making a sedate 24 in his only chance to bat. He stayed on the fringes of Test selection until the tour of India in 2009-10, when an injury to Mark Boucher gave rise to a vacancy in the line-up. Petersen opened at the intimidating Eden Gardens and celebrated the occasion with a century - only the third South African to make a hundred on Test debut.
Cricinfo Staff February 2010