South Africa Recall Ontong For New Zealand Tour

South Africa Recall Ontong For New Zealand Tour

Justin Ontong has been handed a recall by South Africa having last played in the ICC World T20 in 2009

©REUTERS / Action Images

All-rounder Justin Ontong has been handed a recall to South Africa's One-Day International and Twenty20 International squads ahead of the tour of New Zealand.

Ontong has been rewarded for outstanding form with the Cape Cobras and will join the squad for the series of three ODIs and three T20s.

The Proteas also play three Test matches in Dunedin, Hamilton and Wellington.

Uncapped opener Richard Levi has been brought in to the Twenty20 squad while JP Duminy is preferred to Ashwell Prince in the Test squad.

Marchant de Lange, who marked his debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka by taking eight wickets, has a chance to impress in T20 cricket as well as being named in the Test squad.

Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn will be rested from the Twenty20 series, which begins on 17th February in Wellington.

"Ontong fully deserves this latest call-up,” CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said.

"He has shown outstanding domestic form this season and I believe he has developed into a more mature cricketer. His finishing ability was a key factor in the Cobras’ success in winning the 1-Day Cup.

"He is the complete limited overs package, being a fine batsman who will strengthen our fielding disciplines and also give us another bowling option.

"We have decided to try out some exciting new options in the T20 squad such as Levi, Ontong and De Lange. There are only 11 matches left in this format before we travel to Sri Lanka for the ICC World Twenty20 and this is really the last chance to explore the talent we have at our disposal.

"Having AB de Villiers fit again for T20 action also gives us a lot more flexibility and better balance."

South Africa T20I squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice-captain), Johan Botha, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Juan Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

South Africa ODI squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice-captain), Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

South Africa Test squad: Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers (vice-captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

© Cricket World 2012