South Africa recall allrounder Justin Ontong
Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras allrounder, has been included in South Africa's squads for the one-day and Twenty20 international series in New Zealand in February. Graeme Smith has been left out of the Twenty20 side, and another Cobras batsman Richard Levi will open with Hashim Amla in the format.
Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras allrounder, has been included in South Africa's squads for the one-day and Twenty20 international series in New Zealand in February. Graeme Smith has been left out of the Twenty20 side, and another Cobras batsman Richard Levi will open with Hashim Amla in the format. JP Duminy was chosen ahead of Ashwell Prince in the Test squad.
Marchant de Lange, who took seven wickets in an innings on Test debut against Sri Lanka, was selected for his first tour and was in the Test and T20 squads. Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn, were rested for the Twenty20 series.
Ontong hasn't been part of South Africa's squads since the 2009 World Twenty20 in England, where he did not play a game. However, he averaged 72 in this season's 1-Day Cup, South Africa's List A competiton, and 76 in the SuperSport Series, the first-class tournament.
"Ontong fully deserves this latest call-up," Andrew Hudson, Cricket South Africa's selection convener, said. "He has shown outstanding domestic form this season and I believe he has developed into a more mature cricketer. His finishing ability was a key factor in the Cobras' success in winning the 1-Day Cup.
"He is the complete limited-overs package, being a fine batsman who will strengthen our fielding disciplines and also give us another bowling option.
"We have decided to try out some exciting new options in the T20 squad such as Levi, Ontong and de Lange. There are only 11 matches left in this format before we travel to Sri Lanka for the ICC World Twenty20 and this is really the last chance to explore the talent we have at our disposal. Having AB de Villiers fit again for T20 action also gives us a lot more flexibility and better balance."
Rory Kleinveldt and Dean Elgar, who were both selected for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, were not considered because of injury.
Test squad: Graeme Smith (capt), AB de Villiers (vc), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
ODI squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla (vc), Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Twenty20 squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla (vc), Johan Botha, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.