Dane Piedt will get a chance to bring his domestic form into the Test arena, after being included in the Proteas squad to tour Sri Lanka. GARETH STEVENS reports.
The Cobras off-spinner topped the wicket-taking charts in this years Sunfoil Series with 45 scalps. Stiaan van Zyl and Kyle Abbott have also been rewarded for their good domestic form with call ups into the touring party. Quinton de Kock has also retained his place in the squad and the debate about whether he should keep wicket with continue.
South Africa are likely to go into the Tests, played on traditionally low and slow wickets, with two front line spinners. Piedt is the favourite to join leg-spinner Imran Tahir in the starting XI, especially since Robin Peterson has been left out. This means that the off-spinner is likely to make his Test debut on 16 July in Galle.
The 24-year-old is an exciting talent who possesses a number of variations, including the Doosra and Carrom ball. These attacking weapons will make him a genuine wicket taking threat on the sub-continent.
If Tahir can pick up where he left off on his last trip to the sub-continent and Piedt continues his domestic form, South Africa’s spinner may propel the side back to the summit of the ICC rankings.
The Test squad is:
Kyle Abbott (Dolphins), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Highveld Lions), AB de Villiers (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Dean Elgar (Titans), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), Morne Morkel (Titans), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Dane Piedt (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Stiaan van Zyl (Cape Cobras)
The ODI squad for the tour has also been announced. It is:
AB de Villiers (Titans, C), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Highveld Lions), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Dolphins), David Miller (Dolphins), Morne Morkel (Titans), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Aaron Phangiso (Highveld Lions), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras)
