Smith given Twenty20 boot

Cape Town - Opener Graeme Smith has been dropped from the Proteas' Twenty20 squad for their series against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Justin Ontong’s outstanding form for the Cape Cobras in both the SuperSport Series and the domestic 1 Day Cup has earned him a recall to the Proteas' squad for both the ODI and T20 series'.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday named the squads for all three formats for next month’s tour of New Zealand that consists of three Test matches, three ODIs and three T20 International matches.

Significant features include the selection of Ontong for both limited overs formats, the pairing of another Cobras’ player, Richard Levi, as Hashim Amla’s opening partner in the T20 squad, and the selection of yet another Cobra, JP Duminy, as the extra batsman for the Test side ahead of Ashwell Prince.

Levi was chosen for the T20 squad against Australia but did not get any game time.

Ontong’s last international selection was for the ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009 although he did not get any game time. He averaged 72 in this season’s 1 Day Cup and currently has an average of 76 in the SuperSport Series.

Marchant de Lange of the Titans, a Test match ‘find’ against Sri Lanka, is again included in the Test squad and will get the chance to show his worth for the first time at T20 International level.

Two stalwarts, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn, will be rested for the T20 series but will play in the other two formats.

“Ontong fully deserves this latest call-up,” commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson. “He has shown outstanding domestic form this season and I believe he has developed into a more mature cricketer. His finishing ability was a key factor in the Cobras’ success in winning the 1 Day Cup.

“He is the complete limited overs package, being a fine batsman who will strengthen our fielding disciplines and also give us another bowling option.

“We have decided to try out some exciting new options in the T20 squad such as Levi, Ontong and De Lange. There are only 11 matches left in this format before we travel to Sri Lanka for the ICC World Twenty20 and this is really the last chance to explore the talent we have at our disposal.

“Having AB de Villiers fit again for T20 action also gives us a lot more flexibility and better balance.”

Rory Kleinveldt and Dean Elgar, who were both selected for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, could not be considered because of injury.

Proteas’ Test squad:

Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras, captain), AB de Villiers (Titans, vice-captain), Hashim Amla (Dolphins), Mark Boucher (Cape Cobras), Marchant de Lange (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Cape Cobras), Morne Morkel (Titans), Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Jacques Rudolph (Titans), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors)

Proteas’ ODI squad:

AB de Villiers (Titans, captain), Hashim Amla (Dolphins, vice-captain), Johan Botha (Warriors), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Jacques Kallis (Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors)

Proteas’ T20 squad:

AB de Villiers (Titans, captain), Hashim Amla (Dolphins, vice-captain), Johan Botha (Warriors), Marchant de Lange (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Richard Levi (Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Rusty Theron (Warriors), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors)