Prosport News 

27 January 2012 - Prosport International Star of the Month (January 2012): Lonwabo Tsotsobe

January's Prosport International Star of the Month is Protea left-arm seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe. The 27 year-old from PE has shot up the ICC ODI rankings following a stellar performance against Sri Lanka in the recently-concluded series.

The Chevrolet Warriors star claimed 11 wickets in the series at an average of under 19 runs. This run of red-hot performances rocketed him 10 places up the ODI rankings behind Pakistani spin twins Saeed Aimal and Mohammad Hafeez.

"Lopsy" is now South Africa’s highest-ranked bowler in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, with the only other Protea listed in the Top Ten - Morne Morkel - in seventh spot.

Tsotsobe received his first national call-up in November 2008 for the test leg of the tour of Australia and was later added to the ODI leg as well. He was later selected for the ODI leg as well. He made his international debut for South Africa in a Twenty20 International against Australia at the MCG on 11 January 2009. On 30 January, he took 4/50 from nine overs in his ODI debut against Australia. South Africa went on to win the match by 39 runs, and the ODI series 4-1.

He made his Test debut in the first match against the West Indies in Trinidad in June 2010. He then participated in the second Twenty20 International vs Zimbabwe in place of the injured Morne Morkel and after conceding two fours in his opening over he took the crucial wicket of Hamilton Masakadza. He was a member of the South African squad for the 2011 World Cup, in which South Africa reached the quarter-finals.

Follow Lonwabo on Twitter @lonwabotsotsobe

Gallery 

Graeme showing support for Bafana Bafana

Schalk Burger @ the Travellex Golf Day in Durban

Ricky Januarie

Gert Schalkwyk