Proteas
Smith given Twenty20 boot
2012-01-25 13:12
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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)