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Heinrich Klaasen, the wicketkeeper-batsman, and Wiaan Mulder, Highveld Lions' all-rounder, have been named in South Africa's 15-man Test squad for the first two Tests versus Australia.
AB de Villiers, who missed a part of the ODI series against India due to the finger injury, and the subsequent three-match T20I rubber on the back of the knee injury, has been included. Faf du Plessis, the regular captain, who was ruled out for most part of the ODI rubber and the entire T20I series against India, due to the finger injury returns to the set-up. Quinton de Kock also finds a place in the squad after he injured his wrist in the ODI series against India.
Meanwhile, Andile Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris, the two all-rounders, have been dropped from the set-up.
Klaasen, who hasn't yet played Test cricket, has been in very good form in the shorter versions of the game. The 26-year-old cracked an impressive 69 in the second T20I versus India in Centurion, on Wednesday (February 21). He also made an impression in the 50-over format, compiling a crucial hand of 43 not out at the Wanderers versus the same side.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has also shone brightly in first class cricket this season, scoring 292 runs at 48.66 for Titans. The aggressive batsman has composed 3625 runs in first class cricket and has effected 495 dismissals. He will act as the back-up 'keeper to de Kock.
Mulder, the all-rounder, has accumulated 370 runs at 61.66 and picked up 15 scalps during the 2017-18 first class season. He scored his maiden first class century against Knights in October 2016. The 19-year-old made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in East London last year.
"Klaasen has been tremendously impressive in the white-ball matches he has played for the Proteas and we firmly believe he can become just as good a player in the five-day format," commented CSA National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi.
"He has averaged nearly 50 with the bat in Sunfoil four-day cricket this season and hit two centuries. We are also keen to have a back-up wicketkeeper to De Kock in the squad," he added.
"The selection of Mulder continues our strategy to expand our pool of all-rounders against top quality opposition. He is a batting all-rounder and his selection will depend on how we decide to balance our starting XI. He has been the top all-rounder in the Sunfoil Series with a batting average of 60 (one century) and 15 wickets at an average of 28.
"It has been very exciting this season to see the way young players have settled into the various Proteas squads and done well and this is a continuation of that policy," concluded Zondi.
The first Test of the four-match series will be played in Durban, on Friday (March 1).
Test squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungisani Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada
(CRICBUZZ)
