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Tsotsobe added to Test squad

TOP FORM: Warriors' Lonwabo Tsotsobe. 30/01/09. Pic. Tertius Pickard. © Gallo Images.
TOP FORM: Warriors' Lonwabo Tsotsobe. 30/01/09. Pic. Tertius Pickard. © Gallo Images.

The national cricket selectors kept faith with the team that won the Test series against Australia earlier this summer.

The national cricket selectors kept faith with the team that won the Test series against Australia earlier this summer.

This was the case when they announced a 12-man Test squad for the first two matches of the three-Test return series starting on February 26.

Warriors fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who took four wickets for 50 runs on debut in the fifth and final one-day international in Perth, was added to the 12-man squad. Tsotsobe travelled to Australia as a full member of the Test and one-day squads, but this is the first time he has been included in the Test-playing squad.

There was disappointment for the vice captain, Ashwell Prince, who was left out of the squad. Prince injured his thumb before the first Test in Perth, giving JP Duminy an opportunity to stake his claim to a Test place.

Duminy grasped the opportunity with both hands and returned as one of the heroes of South Africa's series win.

"It was a difficult decision," said the convenor of selectors, Mike Procter.

"We are in the fortunate position of having seven world-class batsmen competing for six positions. It is a very healthy position for South African cricket.

"Ashwell is understandably bitterly disappointed but he appreciates that he has not had the opportunity to play much cricket since his injury."

Procter said Tsotsobe had performed very impressively in limited opportunities in Australia. "He gives us extra bowling variety and depth," he said.

"We are monitoring Mark Boucher's recovery from injury and we are confident that he will be fit to play by the time the series starts," added Procter.

Boucher had to sit out the last three ODIs with a broken toe caused by a yorker from Shaun Tait.

Coach Mickey Arthur was upbeat after the team announcement.

"The recent tour to Australia has demonstrated the depth that we have developed in both our batting and bowling departments, and this augurs well for the Test squad going forward into another tough series against Australia," he said.

SA Castle Test squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. - Sapa

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