Steyn and Amla out for 5th Test

South Africa has released Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla from the squad for the fifth and final Test against England.

Amla's struggles have been well-documented in his 3 Tests to date. He has managed just 62 runs in total at a woeful average of 10.33. This, despite dominating South African domestic cricket with 1051 runs in 14 matches over the past two seasons.

Dale Steyn has not impressed statistically in Tests thus far, but he has displayed great potential. The 21-year-old entered the Test team with very limited First Class experience and has taken 8 international wickets at 52 since. His economy rate has been far from impressive though, sitting at 4.14.

Replacing Steyn in the team is potentially Andre Nel. Nel has not played for South Africa in almost a year due to injury, but has taken 36 wickets in 10 Tests at 31.11 apiece.

He has taken 13 wickets in 2 domestic matches this season, averaging 17 with with a best of 5/79.

Nel will only play if Charl Langeveldt is unfit due to his broken hand. Langeveldt took 5 wickets on debut in the third Test, despite having injured his left hand whilst batting.

South Africa Squad
GC Smith (C)
MV Boucher (wk)
HH Gibbs
JA Rudolph
JH Kallis
HH Dippenaar
AB de Villiers
N Boje
SM Pollock
M Ntini
CK Langeveldt
A Nel.

Posted by Liam