Cricket South Africa names squad for Zimbabwe and England series

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday has included 26-year-old Ryan McLaren and 25-year-old Heino Kuhn in its limited overs squads for the approaching series against Zimbabwe and England.

All-rounder McLaren has been included in the ODI squad for the two-match series against Zimbabwe as well as the first three matches of the series against England and the two Twenty20 Internationals.

This is one of three changes to the Proteas' ODI squad that did duty in the ICC Champions' Trophy 2009 tournament. McLaren takes the place of Robin Peterson while two long-serving players, Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini, drop out to make room for Alviro Petersen and Charl Langeveldt.

McLaren and Langeveldt have recently given up their Kolpak status which makes them eligible for the Proteas again while Petersen has been a stand-out performer both for South Africa A and in the domestic competitions in which he scored a record number of centuries last season.

Wicket-keeper Kuhn gets his chance in the T20Is against England. This is the first indication the selectors have given in their long-term succession plans for Mark Boucher behind the stumps.

Loots Bosman also makes a comeback to the Proteas' squad for the T20I series.

"It is never easy to leave out senior players, particularly when they are men of the calibre of Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini who have given such wonderful service over a long period of time," commented selection convener Mike Procter. "But we also have to keep looking forward and reward those players who are knocking strongly on the door.

"Although we have chosen these squads for the Zimbabwe series as well as the first three matches against England, we are flexible and reserve the right to add other players as we think fit.

"The aim is for all 15 players to get a run in the two T20I matches against England," Procter added.

SQUADS

ODI squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

T20I squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Heino Kuhn, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.

Coach: Mickey Arthur

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