Rudolph Recalled, Tahir And Philander Called Up

Rudolph Recalled, Tahir And Philander Called Up

Jacques Rudolph is set for his first Test in five years when South Africa meet Australia on 9th November

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Jacques Rudolph has been handed a recall to South Africa's Test team after an absence of five years ahead of two matches against Australia.

Uncapped leg-spinner Imran Tahir and all-rounder Vernon Philander have also been named in a 14-man squad for the series, which begins on 9th November.

Vice-captain AB de Villiers has been included in the squad but will have to undergo a fitness test having missed the limited overs series with a hand fracture picked up while on duty for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Champions League Twenty20.

Rudolph last featured in Test cricket in 2006, playing against Sri Lanka before signing a Kolpak contract with Yorkshire in 2007, which ruled him out of international selection.

Since making himself available, he has led South Africa A on tour in Zimbabwe and has started the domestic season in strong form with more than 500 runs in three matches.

Both Tahir and Philander have played for South Africa in limited overs cricket - Tahir starring at the 2011 World Cup - but are untested at the highest level but both have also been picked on the back of good starts to the domestic season.

"Jacques will open the batting with Graeme Smith," selection convener Andrew Hudson said.

"His experience and current form make him an asset to the Proteas and at the age of 30 he has plenty of good years of cricket ahead of him.

"Jacques has underlined once again the importance of good domestic form and the fact that it is the gateway to national selection."

The man Rudolph replaces in the squad, Alviro Petersen, will be captaining the South Africa A team that plays the touring Australians in a warm-up from 1st to 4th November.

JP Duminy and Philander will also feature as part of their Test preparations.

South Africa Test squad: Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers (vice-captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

South Africa A: Alviro Petersen (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Pumelela Matshikwe, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Stiaan van Zyl

© Cricket World 2011