JOHANNESBURG Dec 30 (Reuters) – Wicketkeeper Mark
Boucher was one of three players dropped on Friday when South
Africa named their squad for next month’s one-day internationals
against Sri Lanka.
Boucher, 35, who holds the world record for most test
dismissals (540), batsman David Miller and leg-spinner Imran
Tahir have paid the price for the limited-overs series defeat at
home to Australia in October.
Dean Elgar, a left-handed batsman and part-time spinner, and
all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt were called up as Cricket South
Africa (CSA) announced a 14-man squad for the first two games of
January’s five-match series against Sri Lanka.
Kleinveldt, 28, is in line for his ODI debut after two
Twenty20 internationals while Elgar, 24, impressed in South
Africa’s domestic limited-overs competition.
The team will be led by wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers
for the first time since he was appointed as ODI captain.
“Elgar fully deserves his opportunity,” CSA selection
convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.
“He was the leading run-scorer in the (domestic) one-day cup
and also had the best average. In addition he gives us very
useful bowling options as a left-arm spinner.
“Kleinveldt played an important role with the ball in
helping the Cobras to win the one-day cup and he also has a lot
of potential as a lower-order power hitter.”
The first game of the series takes place in Paarl on Jan. 11
with the final match scheduled for Jan. 22 in Johannesburg.
South Africa squad: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers
(captain), JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques
Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin
Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
(Reporting by Jason Humphries, editing by Stephen Wood)
