Cummins wins Australia Test call

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Pat Cummins impressed in Australia's two Twenty20 clashes against South Africa, when he returned figures of 3-25 and 2-26

Teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins could become Australia’s second-youngest Test player after being named in a 15-man squad to tour South Africa.

The 18-year-old New South Welshman replaces James Pattinson in an otherwise unchanged party from the tour of Sri Lanka, where Australia last month took the Test series 1-0.

Cummins, who last year became the youngest player to earn a Cricket Australia contract, is set to stay on in South Africa for the entire trip, having taken 3-25 and 2-26 in the Twenty20 internationals against the Proteas.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said: "The squad has a very good balance of experience and exciting young talent.

"While playing South Africa on their home soil is one of the hardest assignments in world cricket, it will be a very exciting challenge for this new-look Test side after it played excellent cricket to win the Sri Lankan series last month.

"James is very unlucky to miss selection. He is a very good young fast bowler who has done well in his limited opportunities at international level to date."

Australia will play three one-day internationals before the first Test in Cape Town, starting on November 9. The second and final Test is in Johannesburg from November 17.

"We think the conditions will be quite different at both venues. This squad gives us the flexibility to adapt to all conditions and we think gives us the right balance to maximise our chances of winning the series," Hilditch said.

Hilditch revealed spinners Michael Beer and Nathan Lyon are set to remain in Australia to play two Sheffield Shield matches each before joining the squad in the lead up to the first Test.

Seamer Ryan Harris will also stay in Australia to be available for Queensland's Shield game against Tasmania at the Gabba from October 25.

Meanwhile, T20 skipper Cameron White is to remain with the one-day squad for an indefinite period after Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh suffered injury scares. Watson has a hip muscle strain and Marsh a damaged shoulder.

Australian squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-captain), Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Patrick Cummins, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Ryan Harris, Phil Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle.