Oz youngster becomes Proteas 'keeper for a day

Cape Town - Harry Nielsen was called up to help the Proteas, who were wicketkeeper-less during their warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI over the weekend.

The 21-year-old stood in for Quinton de Kock, after he was suddenly struck down by an illness and wasn’t well enough to wear the gloves, despite scoring a century (122) in the first innings.

The Proteas' reserve 'keeper, Dane Vilas, has not arrived in Australia yet, ahead of the first Test in Perth next week Thursday.

Nielsen had only played a handful of Futures League games for South Australia and made only one appearance for a Cricket Australia XI side.

"They (Proteas) were really easy to talk to and they were really nice, and treated me like I was actually playing which was unexpected," Nielsen told the Herald Sun.

"They kept calling me Hadds (Brad Haddin) because I kept like an Aussie, whereas the South Africans just sort of stand there and catch it.

"It made me feel really welcome, they had no egos on them," he said.

Nielsen, who is the son of former Australian coach Tim, took four catches behind the wicket from fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott.

The South Africans did not bowl in the second innings, before the game ended in a draw.

The next warm-up game for the Proteas is scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Gliderol Stadium in Adelaide.

Tour itinerary:

October 27-28: Two-day Tour match, Gliderol Stadium

November 3-7: 1st Test, WACA Ground, Perth

November 12-16: 2nd Test, Blundstone Arena, Hobart

November 19-20: Two-day Tour match, MCG (Pink ball)

November 24-28: 3rd Test, Adelaide Oval (Pink ball)

Plucked from Adelaide grade cricket to play for the Proteas! Harry the accidental hero. WATCH/READ: https://t.co/GFTJZCOfIH #CAXIvSA pic.twitter.com/Kj3iIp50OF

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) October 23, 2016