England have announced their 16-man squad for the T20 series against the Proteas, starting on 20 June.
Six changes have been made to the squad from the last match against India in February. Moeen Ali, Jake Ball, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Ben Stokes are rested and will play for their respective countries in the inaugural day-night round of the County Championship, starting on Monday 26 June.
Sussex fast bowler Tymal Mills has been ruled out through a back injury.
The squad includes five potential T20 debuts – although Middlesex opener Dawid Malan, Surrey’s Tom Curran and Somerset’s Craig Overton have previously been included in England squads.
Chairman of selectors James Whitaker said: ‘The IT20 series against South Africa presents us with an opportunity to incorporate several players who have come through the talent pathway into the senior group. The squad has an exciting blend of youth and experience and we are looking forward to a competitive series against strong opposition.
‘With five uncapped players selected, there is undoubted talent coming through the system and we are excited to see some of these players showcase their skills at the highest level.
‘Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tom Curran and Craig Overton have impressed for the England Lions over the past 12 months and have transferred their skills across all formats, in particular with their respective counties.
‘Young leg-spinner Mason Crane is another player with great promise and he has made great strides with Hampshire this season and has added to his experience with stints in the North-South Series earlier in the season, where he took crucial wickets, and even earned selection for New South Wales in Australia’s premier domestic competition the Sheffield Shield.’
England will meet in Southampton on Tuesday 20 June.
Squad: Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Eoin Morgan (c) (Middlesex), Craig Overton (Somerset), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
