In just his third first-class game, left-handed teenager Andrew Puttick impressed with a wonderful century. Before that, he had already represented South Africa in the 1999 ICC U19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka.

Also known as 'Boom', Puttick got off to a flying start in his domestic career, as he averaged almost fifty and scored a fine, unbeaten knock of 250. He was then selected in the South African A squad to face Sri Lanka in 2003, but struggled to find form. Subsequently, he was called up to the South African team against Sri Lanka in 2004, as a replacement to Herschelle Gibbs. Puttick had to wait for another year before he finally made his ODI debut, which came against New Zealand and lasted only five balls. He had a poor start, getting out on a duck in that match. Disappointed, he returned to domestic cricket and performed brilliantly for the Cape Cobras, helping them to two consecutive Domestic Championship titles in 2006 and 2007. With his form, Puttick went on to captain the Cobras, as he replaced injured Graeme Smith in the Champions League T20 that followed.