South Africa name uncapped quartet in preliminary 2011 World Cup squad (original) (raw)
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Francois du Plessis in action for Lancashire last year. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport
• Vandiar, Du Plessis, Elgar and Mbhalati all named
• Also recalls for Rudolph and Van der Wath
Press Association
The uncapped quartet Jonathan Vandiar, Francois du Plessis, Dean Elgar and Ethy Mbhalati have been named in a preliminary 30-man squad by South Africa for next year's World Cup.
There are also recalls for the opener Jacques Rudolph and the all-rounder Johannes van der Wath, who have been ineligible in recent years after signing Kolpak deals with English county sides, while the wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk is back in the frame.
Another veteran gloveman, Mark Boucher, is also named despite his recent omission from the one-day set-up. Thami Tsolekile, who has three Test caps behind the stumps for the Proteas, as well as the youngster Heino Kuhn, join Boucher on the list meaning there are a total of five wicketkeepers in the squad – with AB de Villiers the incumbent.
From the uncapped players, the all-rounder Du Plessis ended top of the batting charts in the domestic 40-over competition where his side the Titans were beaten in the final. The former Lancashire player scored 567 runs, including three centuries, while he also took 10 wickets.
The batsman Vandiar, 20, averaged more than 50 in his four outings for the Lions, while the all-rounder Elgar, 23, was part of the Knights side that won the limited-overs final. The Titans seamer Mbhalati, 29, is a veteran of the domestic circuit and has been amongst the wickets in both the four-day and 40-over competitions.
"We indicated at the start of the season that we would reward players who performed well in domestic cricket," the convener of selectors, Andrew Hudson, said. "There have been some highly impressive performances in the MTN40 and this has opened the door of opportunity for the likes of Francois du Plessis, Jonathan Vandiar, Ethy Mbhalati and Morne van Wyk among others."
All preliminary squads need to be named by the end of this week with the final 15-man lists due by 19 January. South Africa are in Group B for the World Cup on the sub-continent, alongside Bangladesh, England, India, West Indies, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Full preliminary squad
Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras), Hashim Amla (Dolphins), Johan Botha (Warriors), Loots Bosman (Dolphins), Mark Boucher (Warriors), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Dean Elgar (Knights), Heino Kuhn (Titans), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Jacques Kallis (Warriors), Charl Langeveldt (Cape Cobras), Ethy Mbhalati (Titans), Ryan McLaren (Knights), David Miller (Dolphins), Albie Morkel (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Alviro Petersen (Lions), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Francois du Plessis (Titans), Jacques Rudolph (Titans), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Rusty Theron (Warriors), Thami Tsolekile (Lions), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors), Jonathan Vandiar (Lions), AB de Villiers (Titans), Roelof van der Merwe (Titans), Johannes van der Wath (Knights), Morne van Wyk (Knights).
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