Makhaya Ntini and Herschelle Gibbs were recalled into South Africa's limited-overs squad on Monday for five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in Australia in January. The 34-year-old Gibbs has played 234 one-day internationals but was dropped from the squad for three ODIs against Bangladesh in November after an alcohol-related incident.
The opening batsman went into rehabilitation earlier this month after a string of disciplinary problems since his debut for South Africa in 1996. Fast bowler Ntini, who has taken 257 wickets in 168 ODIs, makes a return after missing the home series against Kenya and Bangladesh and has shown good form in domestic and test cricket in the early part of the season.
The selectors will have to consider whether to play Gibbs ahead of Hashim Amla, who has averaged 52.57 in 10 ODIs at a strike rate of 93.40, while Ntini has been recalled at the expense of the inexperienced duo Monde Zondeki and Johann Louw.
Left-arm swing bowlers Lonwabo Tsotsobe (24) and Wayne Parnell (19) and left-handed batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld (23) are new caps in the 15-man squad. "The new caps are all young players we have identified as having the potential to take us forward," selection convenor Mike Procter said in a statement.
Parnell was one of the best performers, with bat and ball, of the under-19 World Cup earlier this year, in which South Africa reached the final. Van Jaarsveld is the leading run scorer in this season's domestic limited-overs competition. Tsotsobe is a member of the squad currently in Australia for the three-test series, but only played in the warm-up games.
SQUAD: Graeme Smith, Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
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