Rudolph returns to Proteas fold
South Africa have handed a Test recall to Jacques Rudolph. The former Yorkshire left-hander will open the batting against Australia
Jacques Rudolph has been recalled to the South Africa squad for the first time in five years, for the two-Test series against Australia next month.
Rudolph will open the batting with captain Graeme Smith after replacing Alviro Petersen, who drops down to captain South Africa A in a four-day match against the tourists from November 1.
All-rounder Vernon Philander and leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who have both been part of South Africa’s limited-overs set-up in recent times, have also been called up for the first time in five-day cricket.
Rudolph has played 35 Tests but has not featured for his country since he joined Yorkshire, initially under the Kolpak ruling, in 2007.
The 30-year-old returned to Headingley Carnegie this year for a brief spell as overseas player, which was cut short when he returned home to a South Africa training camp.
He has since scored 568 runs in six SuperSport Series innings and has been given the opportunity to return to the Proteas fold.
"Jacques will open the batting with Graeme Smith," said selection convener Andrew Hudson. "His experience and current form make him an asset to South Africa and at the age of 30 he has plenty of good years of cricket ahead of him.
"Jacques has underlined once again the importance of good domestic form and the fact that it is the gateway to national selection."
Tahir and Philander replace all-rounders Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren, who will join Petersen in the A team. Philander and JP Duminy feature in both squads.
South Africa Test squad: Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers (vice-captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wicketkeeper), JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
South Africa A squad: Alviro Petersen (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn (wicketkeeper), Pumelela Matshikwe, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Stiaan van Zyl.
