4 new faces for Proteas World Cup squad

Four uncapped players have been included in the preliminary squad of 30 players which was announced on Tuesday by Cricket SA (CSA) for the 2011 ICC World Cup on the Asian sub-continent.

The uncapped players are Highveld Lions’ batsman Jonathan Vandiar, all-rounders Faf du Plessis of the Titans, Dean Elgar of the Knights, and seamer Ethy Mbhalati of the Titans.

There are also recalls for Titans’ batsman Jacques Rudolph and Knights’ all-rounder Johannes van der Wath.

Both have been ineligible for the past few years after signing Kolpak deals in the England county championship, but have now renounced that status.

Another player back in favour is Knights’ captain Morne van Wyk.

A final squad of 15 for the World Cup will be announced in due course, as will the squad for the ODI series against India.

The selectors will not be restricted to the squad of 30 in naming their final group for the World Cup.

“We indicated at the start of the season we would reward players who performed well in domestic cricket,” said selection convenor Andrew Hudson.

“There have been some highly impressive performances in the MTN40 and this has opened the door of opportunity for the likes of Du Plessis, Vandiar, Mbhalati and Van Wyk among others,” he said.

Preliminary Proteas squad:

Top order batsmen: Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras), Hashim Amla (Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Warriors), AB de Villiers (Titans), Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions), Loots Bosman (Dolphins), Jacques Rudolph (Titans), Morne van Wyk (Knights) and Jonathan Vandiar (Highveld Lions).

Middle mix players: JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), David Miller (Dolphins), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Albie Morkel (Titans), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Mark Boucher (Warriors), Thami Tsolekile (Highveld Lions), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Dean Elgar (Knights) and Heino Kuhn (Titans).

Bowlers: Morne Morkel (Titans), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors), Johan Botha (Warriors), Ryan McLaren (Knights), Charl Langeveldt (Cape Cobras), Rusty Theron (Warriors), Ethy Mbhalati (Titans), Roelof van der Merwe (Titans) and Johannes van der Wath (Knights).