Three specialist spinners and no re-call for Quinton de Kock in the Test squad was the big news when Cricket South Africa announced the squads for the tour of India on Thursday.
The Proteas will play four Tests, five ODIs and three T20 matches on the 72-day tour.
Three specialist spinners are in the Test squad – Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt return to the squad to join incumbent Simon Harmer.
‘We want to keep all our options open for the Test Series,’ said CSA selection convener Linda Zondi.
‘We also have JP Duminy as an option in this department and I believe we have covered all our bases by having both holding and attacking spin options in our squad. It is good to have Dane back from his injury and Imran was our No 1 spinner for our last Test series on the sub-continent against Sri Lanka.’
Zondi also confirmed that Dane Vilas would retain the gloves in this format, omitting Quinton de Kock.
‘It is very important that we maintain consistency in our selections and Dane hardly had the chance to make his mark in Bangladesh where the series was so badly disrupted by the weather.’
Imran also returns to the Proteas T20 squad in the place of Aaron Phangiso while there are also recalls for Chris Morris and Marchant de Lange.
‘Chris comes back after a spell out through injury while Marchant has done well at the IPL,’ said Zondi.
‘It is an ideal opportunity to explore our back-up options ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 which will be played in India. It is vital in this format to get wickets up front.’
Rilee Rossouw has been ruled out of the T20 squad through injury but should return to full fitness in time for the ODI series. His place in the T20 squad will be taken by new cap, Khaya Zondo.
There was no place for Vernon Philander or David Wiese in the ODI squad.
It is the longest tour undertaken by the Proteas since 1998, when they travelled around England for 81 days. It is also the first time they will play more than three Tests against India since 1992, when they had a five-match series at home.
Proteas Test squad: Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras, capt), AB de Villiers (Titans, vice-capt), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Dean Elgar (Titans), Simon Harmer (Warriors), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), Morne Morkel (Titans), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Dane Piedt (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Stiaan van Zyl (Cape Cobras), Dane Vilas (Cape Cobras).
Proteas ODI squad: AB de Villiers (Titans, capt), Kyle Abbott (Dolphins), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), David Miller (Dolphins), Morne Morkel (Titans), Chris Morris (Titans), Aaron Phangiso (Highveld Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Rilee Rossouw (Knights), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras).
Proteas T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (Titans, capt), Kyle Abbott (Dolphins), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Marchant de Lange (Titans), AB de Villiers (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), Eddie Leie (Highveld Lions), David Miller (Dolphins), Chris Morris (Titans), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), David Wiese (Titans), Khaya Zondo (Dolphins).
