Altus Momberg

Cape Town – The South African cricket selectors’ bungling over Imran Tahir has opened the door for Johan Botha to resume his Test and ODI careers.

Botha was one of two changes announced to the Proteas’ Test squad for the forthcoming tour of India. Warriors swing bowler, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, is the other change. He replaces the injured Friedel de Wet.

The squad also appears to mark the end of the Makhaya Ntini era. The 32-year-old pace bowler, who has played 101 Tests for the Proteas, did not make the squad.

Tahir was originally included in the Proteas’ squad for the fourth Test against England.

Although he was not going to play in the Test, the Proteas wanted to get him involved with an eye towards the tour of India.

However, he was withdrawn a day after the announcement of the squad as he still does not hold a South African passport.

Botha, the Proteas’ ODI vice-captain, gets another chance in the one-day squad. He last played Test cricket in February 2008 when he was in action against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

His controversial bowling action has subsequently been problematic. He had to be tested in Perth again in February last year after his action was questioned in the one-day series against Australia in South Africa.

The question is now whether Botha will make the South African line-up from the outset.

Paul Harris had a disappointing series against England, but is still the number one spinner in the team.

With JP Duminy’s off-break spin also at captain Graeme Smith’s disposal, Botha will probably have to hope for a spin-friendly wicket like the one the Proteas came across on their previous Indian tour in Kanpur.

South Africa were bowled out for only 121 in the second innings of that particular Test, with off-break spinner Harbhajan Singh having taken the new ball.

The first Test of the series starts at Kanpur on February 6.

The Proteas selectors also surprised with the omission of Charl Langeveldt from the squad for the three one-day internationals at the end of the tour.

Langeveldt tore the Warriors line-up apart in last Friday night's MTN40 match at Newlands when he took 5/17 in eight overs.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur fought hard last year to get Langeveldt back in South Africa, but he was axed after four games - two against Zimbabwe and another two against England.

All-rounder Ryan McLaren, who made his Test debut at the Wanderers last week, was also a surprise omission from the one-day squad. He probably had to make way for Jacques Kallis.

Loots Bosman, who made a big impression in the Twenty20 games against England, has also been included in the squad again with Hashim Amla making way for his Dolphins team-mate.

South African squads:

Test squad:
Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morné Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

One-day squad:
Graeme Smith (captain), Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morné Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe