Kleinveldt will be looking to make a huge impact in his maiden Test match
Coming off a massive win against England this summer, which earned them the right to be called the number one Test team in the world, South Africa have been looking to retain the same squad they had during their upcoming tour of Australia.
However, one change that has been made official is all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt will replace pace bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe in South Africa’s Test squad for the three-Test series against Australia.
South Africa have also left out all-rounder Albie Morkel and pace bowler Marchant de Lange, who is still recovering from a back injury.
Kleinveldt has represented a couple of Twenty20 Internationals for South Africa, but stirred up a media frenzy after he admitted using marijuana last March.
Convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson said: “It is tough luck for Lopsy (Lonwabo Tsotsobe) to miss out but we just feel that Rory’s ability to hit the deck hard will give us a valuable option, particularly at Brisbane and Perth, he also adds batting depth to the lower order. The fact that he finished second on last season’s four-day bowling averages behind only Vernon Philander speaks for itself and he continued his form for the South Africa A side at home to Sri Lanka and away in Ireland.”
Thami Tsolekile has also been included in the squad for the injured AB de Villiers, who is currently recovering from a lower back and ankle injury he re-aggravated during the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20.
“Thami Tsolekile will again be our back-up wicketkeeper and provide cover for AB in the event of injury or if the tour selectors decide to lighten his workload,” Hudson added.
Excepting for the players who are playing in the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), the rest of the South African squad will be leaving for Australia on October 27.
The squad for the three-Test series is as follows: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robbie Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile.