South African trio recalled

Nicky Boje, Andrew Hall and Boeta Dippenaar have been recalled to the South African Test team for the series against Australia, which starts on Thursday at Cape Town. The trio is part of a 14-man squad named for the first two Tests.

Dippenaar returns to Test match consideration for the first time since South Africa’s tour of the West Indies in May of last year. He has played 33 Tests and scored 1511 runs at 31.47, but inconsistency has ensured that he is far from an established player. After a century in the fourth ODI against Australia, however, Dippenaar may now get another chance in the longer form of the game.

Like Dippenaar, Hall has not played Test cricket since the 2005 Caribbean tour. His return appears to be on the basis of his experience with the ball, especially given the questionable fitness of Pollock and Nel.

Spinner Boje was dropped from the senior team after the Boxing Day Test on South Africa’s recent tour of Australia, but strong showings in domestic cricket since have earned him a recall.

Having returned home during the Test series in Australia, Makhaya Ntini has recovered from his knee injury and will make his way back into the team. Charl Langeveldt was not considered due to a finger injury.

South Africa squad
Graeme Smith (capt), Mark Boucher (wk), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Garnett Kruger.