Johannesburg – Uncapped seam bowler Rory Kleinveldt has been included in South Africa's 15-man Test squad for the three-match series in Australia next month.
Kleinveldt, 29, has represented the Proteas in two T20 Internationals – against Bangladesh in November 2008 and India in May 2010 Ä and was expected to make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year before he picked up an injury.
Selection convenor Andrew Hudson said they had shown confidence in the squad that defeated England 2-0 in a three-match series in August.
“We have just tweaked our reserve strength slightly to suit expected conditions and the tactical situation,” Hudson said.
“It is tough luck for Lopsy (Lonwabo Tsotsobe) to miss out but we just feel that Rory's ability to hit the deck hard will give us a valuable option, particularly at Brisbane and Perth. He also adds batting depth to the lower order.
“The fact that he finished second on last season's (domestic) four-day bowling averages behind only Vernon Philander speaks for itself and he continued his form for the South Africa A side at home to Sri Lanka and away in Ireland.”
Hudson said Faf du Plessis had been retained in the squad as the reserve batsman after he had been called up during the England series.
“He will give us cover in the middle-order positions,” Hudson said.
“We already have Jacques Rudolph to cover the top of the order if necessary.
“Thami Tsolekile will again be our back-up wicketkeeper and provide cover for AB (De Villiers) in the event of injury or if the tour selectors decide to lighten his workload.”
De Villiers is in a race against time to be fit for the tour after withdrawing from the Champions League T20 tournament, which starts on Saturday, with a back injury.
“Robbie Peterson's selection as second spinner speaks for itself,” Hudson said.
“His form has been outstanding across all the formats in recent times.
“Marchant de Lange was not considered because of injury. He needs to get back into three-day and four-day cricket to come back into the picture.”
The Proteas would leave for Australia on October 27, Cricket South Africa confirmed, and any players still involved in the Champions League would join them as soon as their commitments to that tournament were complete.
Proteas squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile. – Sapa