Nel back for Proteas

Andre Nel will tour with South Africa later this summer © Getty Images

South Africa have recalled Andre Nel to a 15-man squad to tour England next month.

The fast bowler, who was controversially left out of the Proteas’ tour to India in March due to Cricket South Africa’s transformation policy, is one of five pacemen in the party which will contest the four-match npower Test series starting on July 10.

There are also two spinners in the squad which, with the exception of Nel, features exclusively players who were on duty in the drawn series against the Indians.

After announcing the squad on Friday, CSA selection committee convener Joubert Strydom explained the length of the tour played a big part in their thinking.

He said: “It is a long tour with two lots of back-to-back Test matches and we all know what the rate of attrition of fast bowlers can be.

“In addition, we feel that we will need to give Dale Steyn a bit of a rest as he has been bowling regularly in the IPL. He is one of our key weapons and we want him to be at his best when the Test series gets under way.

“The same applies to Makhaya Ntini while Morne Morkel is coming back from injury.”

Strydom added that, although spinners Paul Harris and Robin Peterson were both included, it was unlikely both would be chosen for any one Test.

“We will definitely want to play a spinner in the Tests and, with the tour taking place out of the South African season, we need to make sure that we have back-up strength that is match fit and in form in the case of injury.

“For the rest we are delighted with the way the squad has played this summer and the players deserve the fullest vote of confidence.”

South Africa will embark on a training camp in the middle of next month before leaving for England on June 24.

They will also play England in the five-match NatWest one-day series and a one-off NatWest Twenty20 international, for which the squad will be named next month.

South Africa squad: G Smith (capt), A Prince (vice-capt), H Amla, M Boucher (wicketkeeper), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, P Harris, J Kallis, N McKenzie, M Morkel, A Nel, M Ntini, R Peterson, D Steyn, M Zondeki.