South Africa announces the squad for the England series

South Africa has announced a 13-man squad for the first 2 Tests of 4-match series against England. The first Test starts in Durban on the Boxing Day. AB de Villiers will don the wicket-keeping gloves for the home side as they have left out Dane Villas who played in India. Quinton de Kock, who made two hundreds in the ODI series that preceded the India Tests, also doesn’t find a place in the squad.

With Vernon Philander out with an ankle injury, as expected Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott were the four seamers in South Africa’s squad. Dane Piedt was the only specialist spinner, with Imran Tahir and Simon Harmer, who both toured India, left out. Stiaan van Zyl kept his place in the squad, and is expected to resume his place at the top of the order alongside Dean Elgar, with Temba Bavuma moving into the middle order.

“One of the issues that concerned us during the tour to India was the lack of depth to our batting, particularly in the lower order and the change in AB’s role means that we can now have a specialist batsman at No. 7. We now feel that the side has a much better balance about it without in any way reducing the tactical options available to our captain, Hashim Amla,” CSA selection convener, Linda Zondi, said.

South Africa squad: Hashim Amla (capt), AB de Villiers (wk), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl

Test Schedule:

December 26-30: 1st Sunfoil Test match, Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban.

January 2-6: 2nd Sunfoil Test match, Newlands, Cape Town

January 14-18: 3rd Sunfoil Test match, Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

January 22-26: 4th Sunfoil Test match, SuperSport Park, Centurion