Kemp in test squad

South Africa have announced their test squad for the series against Australia, and have included allrounder Justin Kemp. Kemp has played 3 tests before, the last of which was over 4 years ago. But in those matches he was played more as a bowler than is likely to be the case now.

Kemp’s inclusion comes after a fantastic year in ODIs, averaging over 40 with the bat. He takes Andrew Hall’s place in the squad, with South Africa only choosing Kallis and Pollock as allrounders, as convenor of selectors Haroon Lorgat explained “I really do feel for a player like Andrew who always performs with passion and does not deserve to be left behind. But we opted for a 14-man squad with Kallis and Pollock as our allrounders and the rest, specialists.”

Also included in the squad is uncapped seamer Garnett Kruger. He is chosen over Monde Zondeki after a superb start to his domestic season, taking 37 wickets in 5 matches. Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje also return to the squad after opting out of the Indian tour, and there is no place for Botha, Peterson or Ontong.

South African Test Squad
Graeme Smith (c), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt, Garnett Kruger.