All-rounders Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell were named on Wednesday as South Africa’s contenders to fill the void left by the retirement of Jacques Kallis.
McLaren and Parnell were called into South Africa’s Test squad for the three-match home series against Australia. They replaced Kallis, who played his final Test last month, and spinner Imran Tahir, who was dropped.
The remainder of South Africa’s squad was unchanged from the recent series win over India, with AB de Villiers picked despite surgery to remove a plate in his left hand just over two weeks ago.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn was in despite a slight cloud over his fitness. Steyn fractured a rib in the second Test against India in late December.
The first Test at Centurion starts on February 12, with the teams also meeting in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
“We want to stay constant to the brand of cricket we have played over the last few years that has brought us such success,” South Africa’s head selector Andrew Hudson said.
