South Africa have selected four uncapped players – Quinton de Kock, Aaron Phangiso, Farhaan Behardien and Rory Kleinveldt – in their ODI squad for the three matches against New Zealand this month. Jacques Kallis was rested, while JP Duminy was unavailable because of the Achilles injury he sustained in Australia.
“We only have the three ODI matches against New Zealand plus another five against Pakistan to prepare our squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in England in the middle of the year,” CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said. “The Champions Trophy also marks the halfway point to the next ICC World Cup so this is a critical part of our preparation to win these two major ICC events. “We have done well in our ODI series over the past year with victories over Sri Lanka and New Zealand and a drawn series in England, so we have every confidence that this squad is on the right track. JP Duminy should also be fit by the time of the Champions Trophy to give us another selection option. The four newcomers have all been doing well, either in domestic cricket or by representing the Proteas in other formats.” The selectors also added Ryan McLaren to the Test squad as cover for Vernon Philander.
ODI squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Robbie Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
