Shaun von Berg gets called up to the national side for the first time as South Africa pack their side with spinners.
Dale Steyn has earned a call-up to the South Africa Test squad for their two-match series in Sri Lanka next month.
Steyn, who is playing for Hampshire in the English domestic circuit in what is his first bit of action since the first Test against India in Cape Town back in January 2018, has been down with injuries a fair bit in recent times.
That Test match against India, where he bowled 17.3 overs before hobbling off with a heel injury, was his first international game since he fractured his shoulder in the Perth Test against Australia in November 2016.
Now back in the Faf du Plessis-led South Africa squad, Steyn has a chance to pick up the three wickets that will take him past Shaun Pollock’s South African Test record 421 wickets.
“It is very welcome news to have Dale back in our pack of world-class seamers, particularly in view of the retirement of Morne Morkel,” said Cricket South Africa National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi. “Kagiso Rabada has also made a complete recovery from the injury concerns he had at the end of the Australia Test series.”
With conditions in Sri Lanka expected to aid spinners, the squad of 15 also welcomes back Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wrist-spinner whose only previous Test was at Adelaide Oval in 2016, and Shaun von Berg, the uncapped 31-year-old leg-spinner with 96 first-class appearances against his name. Keshav Maharaj, of course, will be the main spinner in the side.
“A key factor in our selection process was to cover all our bases and all possible conditions that we may encounter in Sri Lanka,” said Zondi. “The two additional spinners to back up Keshav Maharaj have both had excellent records in recent times in our domestic cricket. Von Berg also gives us additional batting strength in the lower order.”
The other uncapped player in the side is Heinrich Klaasen, who started out in international cricket with a couple of big performances against India in the limited-overs series at home earlier this year, but is yet to play in the Test XI.
Heinrich Klaasen is the other uncapped player although he has been part of our squad for some time,” said Zondi. He provides wicket-keeping cover for Quinton de Kock and is also a contender for a specialist batting position.”
The Test matches will be played in Galle (12-16 July) and Colombo (20-24 July) before the two teams play five one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 International.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Shaun von Berg.
