Kwena Maphaka

• Biography

Kwena Maphaka; the youngest male player to debut for South Africa in all three formats.

In a whirlwind end to 2024, the 18-year-old first represented the Proteas in T20 cricket against West Indies in August, added an ODI cap against Pakistan in December and completed the set in January.

The feat will take some beating and the left-arm paceman more than held his own at the highest standard of cricket, taking 11 wickets in his first eight matches.

His ascension to full international honours shouldn’t come as the biggest surprise as aged just 15 he represented the Proteas at the Under-19 World Cup, taking seven wickets.

Two years later and he produced even better numbers, taking three five-wicket hauls on his way to 21 scalps at an average of just 9.71, including three in a losing cause against India in the semi-final.

Catching the eye of IPL owners, Maphaka became the third youngest overseas player to feature in the tournament with his two games for Mumbai Indians coming as an injury replacement, all before he made his international debut.