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Dwaine Pretorius cricketing career was just beginning when it almost ended. It was 2008, he was 18 years old and had been named in South Africas Under-19 World Cup squad, but he never got to the event. On the first of January that year, Pretorius tore the cartilage in his right knee and decided to study instead of play sport, at least for a while.I realised that sport is unpredictable and it would be a good idea to get my career sorted so that I would have something if cricket didnt work out, Pretorius, who has been named in South Africas squad for the one-off ODI against Ireland, told ESPNcricinfo. But my dad said that after I got my degree, he would financially support for a year or two to see if I could make it as a cricketer.Pretorius enrolled in an Accounting degree course at the University of Pretoria and for three years concentrated on his academics. He played for the student team but never ventured into anything more serious until he graduated. Even then, he contemplated furthering his education to become a chartered accountant (CA) before remembering the deal he had made with his father. We went on a family holiday and I said to my dad that when I am lying on my deathbed, Im not going to think that I should have tried to become a CA but I might think that I should have tried to become a cricketer.To pursue that ambition, Pretorius returned to his home province, North West, even though the teams coach, Monty Jacobs, warned him that there was little chance of breaking into the team. Monty said to me the squad was pretty settled and it would be tough to get a game but that I should come through and we could see, Pretorius said.The seeing, meant exactly that. For months, Pretorius trained and watched his team-mates play but did not take the field himself. It was very frustrating, he said. I felt like I was doing nothing and I started to wonder whether that was the best decision for me. Every time the thought came into my head, I reminded myself that I would regret not trying.Finally, in the last game of the season, in 2011, Pretorius got a look-in. He was selected for a three-day game against Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland and went wicketless in the first innings. Things got better when his turn to bat came. He scored 53 and then took 5 for 38 to set up the teams victory. The following summer, Pretorius was a regular and made a name for himself as an allrounder in the shortest format. In five T20 matches he took six wickets at 21.50 and scored 179 runs including two fifties at 59.66. He was awarded the T20 Amateur Cricketer of the Year award at CSAs 2012 prize-giving and was included in the Lions franchise squad to play in the Champions League T20 but his knee had other ideas.He suffered a second injury and required major surgery. At 23, he again thought his career had ended but after fighting his way back, he found a way to resuscitate it by changing his approach. Instead of trying to get quicker, he decided to get cleverer.In my rookie years I was obsessed with pace and I felt like I would never play for South Africa if I didnt reach 140kph. But after that, I shifted my focus, he said. I thought about what makes Vernon Philander so good as a player and I asked guys at the Lions and the answer they gave me was that he never misses his spot. In business terms, I thought that was part of the market I would carve out for myself.Pretorius put his efforts into accuracy, an awayswinger, and developing his all round game. He spent hours with Lions bowling coach Gordan Parsons and in the 2014-15 season was rewarded with a franchise contract. He became an important member of the Lions side and in the following year was judged the South African Cricketers Associations most valuable player across all formats. He was included in the South African A side to play in a quadrangular series in Australia this winter and is now one of three new names in the ODI squad, alongside Andile Phehlukwayo and Temba Bavuma.Unlike the other two, Pretorius isnt part of the squad for the five-match series against Australia that follows the Ireland game. Theres nothing I can do now, no more performances I can put before those matches, so its just about enjoying the experience, he said. It will give me a toe in the door and hopefully I will be able to show what kind of a player I am.So what kind of player is that? In his own words: A genuine allrounder who can offer something different. I want to be in a position to win games with bat or ball. I dont want people to say if Dwaine gets runs, we will be lucky. I want people to expect me to get runs and take wickets.South Africa are still searching for a two-in-one player they can rely on regularly and Pretorius will be up against Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris and Phehlukwayo in trying to claim the spot. Competition for the allrounder role is stiff but I think if I can get my batting solid, I can put some of those guys under pressure for their places, he said. But at the same time, I am not focused on trying to be better than someone else but on trying to be my best.For Pretorius, that means ensuring he puts himself in a position not just to play ODI cricket but to play Test cricket. That would be the ultimate. Maybe if I can score 500 or 600 first-class runs in a season, I will come into contention for a Test spot, he said. And so, at 27, Pretorius finds his career is beginning again. Dmitry Kulikov Jersey . 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With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. NEW YORK -- Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki said Monday he is getting closer to returning from sore right Achilles.Nowitzki missed his fourth straight game in the Mavericks 93-77 loss to the New York Knicks. He had a lengthy pregame workout, but by then it was already decided that he wouldnt play.The biggest issue is still running, Nowitzki said after the game. Im not a big runner at this stage in my career but I cant really go up and down yet. I havent run in full practice. So its not quite there yet but the good thing is its getting better. I dont have the soreness I had last week obviously. Ill be doing more and more.Nowitzki sat out the second half of Dallas loss in Portland on Nov. 4 and hasnt played since. Though the Mavericks are 2-7, they dont want the 38-year-old forward back until hes ready.I think hes really closse.dddddddddddd Hes feeling a lot better and we just dont want to rush anything, owner Mark Cuban said. Theres no reason to rush anything with him.The Mavericks also are playing without injured guards Deron Williams and Devin Harris, and on Monday shot under 39 percent against a Knicks team that had been struggling defensively. Nowitzki, the No. 6 scorer in NBA history, knows the offense will return once he does.We cant score enough. Obviously thats the one thing I can sort of do, Nowitzki said. I might not be any good at any other thing anymore but I can still score a little bit and help the team score, just helping offensively as much as I can. So its tough. It is tough to sit over there and watch. ' ' '