Rising Through the Ranks
🏆 Lions Awards & Domestic Dominance
- Codi Yusuf was crowned Player of the Season at the 2025 DP World Lions awards, also picking up Bowler of the Year in both one‑day and four‑day formats, after leading with 23 longer-format wickets and 8 in one-dayers reddit.com+15timeslive.co.za+15iol.co.za+15.
- In February’s CSA One-Day Cup, Yusuf sealed a dramatic Jukskei Derby win for the Lions by taking the final four wickets, finishing with figures of 4–53, including dismissing Dewald Brevis dawn.com+4supersport.com+4iol.co.za+4.
- He notched his sixth first-class four-wicket haul during the CSA 4‑Day Series final against the Titans, finishing with 4–46 on Day 4 timeslive.co.za+4supersport.com+4cric-mate.com+4.
🌍 Durham County Stint
- Signed by Durham for their 2025 County Championship campaign, Yusuf impressed early on by claiming 13 wickets in his first four innings, with his 100th first-class wicket being Proteas keeper Kyle Verreynne reddit.com+13iol.co.za+13magic828.co.za+13.
- He excelled with the Duke ball in English conditions—taking six wickets at Worcester and contributing an invaluable 44 with the bat* iol.co.za+1magic828.co.za+1.
- Praised by Durham’s director Marcus North, Yusuf’s signing filled a seam-bowling gap and showcased his potential clubcricket.co.za+1iol.co.za+1.
🎯 Test Squad Selection
- Named in South Africa’s 16-man squad for the two-Test series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, starting 28 June 2025. Among five uncapped players, Yusuf earned his first Test call-up on the back of consistent domestic and county performances magic828.co.za+15reuters.com+15dawn.com+15.
- His addition strengthens a pack missing seniors like Rabada, Jansen, and Ngidi, offering fresh pace options alongside peers like Kwena Maphaka reuters.com+3reuters.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3.
📊 Player Profile & Stats
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | 33 | 105 | 27.8 | 6/49 |
| List-A | 22 | 39 | 18.7 | 4/26 |
| T20 | 39 | 36 | 29.7 | 3/15 |
| County (Durham) | – | 13 in 4 innings | – | – |
- A right-arm medium-fast called an all-rounder for his batting contributions lower down the order .
- Coached by Allan Donald at the Lions and mentored by Jake Ball at Durham, Yusuf credits them for his strategic and mental bowling development sportsboom.com+1iol.co.za+1.
🌟 What’s Next
- Test debut set for 28 June 2025, in Bulawayo, possibly replacing rested senior pacers .
- A strong series could cement his place as a long-term pace option and deepen his claim for WTC Final and future tours.
- County stint continues: further performances with Durham could enhance his red-ball credentials and help develop adaptability to varied conditions.
In summary:
Codi Yusuf’s breakthrough to South Africa’s Test setup is a testament to discipline, volume of wickets, and adaptability across conditions—from domestic stalwart to County standout. His elevation marks him as a talent to watch in the upcoming Tests.
