Cape Argus Sport

Amla gets ODI call - at the cost of Gibbs

MICHAEL DOMAN|Published

Proteas top-order batsman Hashim Amla has been given a deserved spot in the one-day squad for the tour to the West Indies in May and June, while the experienced Herschelle Gibbs has been omitted.

Amla featured in the Proteas' previous ODI series, against India, but he was only included in the squad when captain Graeme Smith returned home injured.

In squads for upcoming assignments released on Tuesday, two Cape Cobras all-rounders, Justin Kemp (currently playing in the IPL) and Vernon Philander, survived the first cull in the group for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, starting on April 30.

The T20 group is now 18-strong and will be cut to 15 by March 30. The only uncapped player in the provisional squad is the Warriors' Rusty Theron, whose exceptional form with the ball in domestic limited-overs competitions must give him a good chance of breaking into the Proteas set-up.

Gibbs, also currently playing in the IPL, is in the T20 squad.

There will be concern around the latest finger fracture suffered by Smith in the IPL on Monday, which will see him return home, probably by Wednesday.

He could recover in time for the World T20, but the question is whether he will be able to fit in any match practise.

National cricket squads

Pro20 (for ICC World Twenty20 - provisional):

Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Rusty Theron, Roelof van der Merwe.

ODI for West Indies tour:

Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

Test for West Indies tour:

Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Ryan McLaren, Mornec Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.