JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini have been left out of South Africa’s squad for one-day international matches against Zimbabwe and England.
“It is never easy to leave out senior players, particularly when they are men of the calibre of Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini who have given such wonderful service over a long period of time,” team selector Mike Proctor said in a statement yesterday.
“But we also have to keep looking forward and reward those players who are knocking strongly on the door.”
The 35-year-old Gibbs last played in South Africa’s loss to England by 22 runs in the Champions Trophy last month.
Ntini, who was named in the Champions Trophy squad but did not play a game, last played a one-dayer against Australia in April.
The squad named yesterday covers the two-match series against Zimbabwe starting on Nov. 8 and the first three of a five-match series against England. Cricket South Africa also named the squad that will play England in two Twenty20 matches.
All-rounder Ryan McLaren, a former Kolpak player with Kent, is in line to make his international debut after being included in both the ODI and T20 squads, while 34-year-old swing bowler Charl Langeveldt, also a former Kolpak player with Derbyshire, has been recalled for both squads.
Opening batsman Alviro Petersen, who played the last of his five ODIs in March 2008, has also been recalled.
South Africa will play the first of its T20 matches against England on Nov. 13 at Wanderers in Johannesburg, and the first ODI on Nov. 20 at the same venue.
ODI Squad:Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.
T20 squad:Graeme Smith (capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Heino Kuhn, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.