Tahir pays price for Adelaide agony

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South Africa have unsurprisingly omitted Imran Tahir for next month’s two-Test series with New Zealand.

The leg-spinner endured a torrid time in his last outing in Adelaide, conceding a mammoth 260 runs in 37 unsuccessful overs.

Robin Peterson subsequently replaced his fellow slow bowler for the final Test against Australia and has been retained after claiming six wickets in a series-clinching 309-run victory.

“It was a tough call to leave out Imran Tahir but we have to acknowledge that Robin Peterson put up an outstanding performance at Perth where he made a significant contribution to our victory “ said selection convener Andrew Hudson.

Imran Tahir, left, came in for heavy punishment in Adelaide last month and has unsurprisingly been dropped from South Africa's Test squad

“Imran remains very much in our plans going forward.”

There are a number of new faces in a much-changed T20 squad to face the Black Caps in three matches from December 21.

Francois du Plessis will lead the side, with regular skipper AB de Villiers likely to be rested for at least one of the fixtures.

“AB de Villiers remains our first-choice captain in this format,” Hudson added.

“But AB is one of the players we need to rotate in the interest of his workload across all three formats and we want to have one captain for the entire series.”

Nashua Titans opening batsman Henry Davids and Highveld Lions duo Quinton de Kock and Aaron Phangiso have been handed maiden call-ups to the T20 squad, while there is also a place for Chris Morris, whose only previous Proteas appearances came in the unofficial series against Zimbabwe earlier this year.

“I believe we have chosen an extremely exciting squad of 15 players which will enable us both to rotate senior players and to provide opportunity to a new group of players,” Hudson concluded.

South Africa Test squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn.

South Africa T20 squad: Francois du Plessis (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Rory Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.