South Africa have left out pace bowler Morne Morkel from their 15-man squad for September's ICC Champions Trophy.
Pace bowler overlooked in favour of Tsotsobe
South Africa have left out pace bowler Morne Morkel from their 15-man squad for September's ICC Champions Trophy.
The tall seamer has paid the price for inconsistent performances last season and his place in the squad has been taken by left-armer Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
The 25-year-old joins Wayne Parnell, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn as the front-line bowlers in the squad having impressed in his only one-day international against Australia in January.
Left-arm spin bowler Robin Peterson has also been handed a recall to the squad and he and Roelof van der Merwe provide the slow bowling options for the host nation.
"There were some difficult choices to make," said selection convener Mike Procter.
Batting potential
"At the moment South African cricket is blessed with an abundance of fast bowling talent with the emergence of Tsotsobe and Parnell as outstanding new prospects and Charl Langeveldt becoming available again.
"Langeveldt is not fit enough yet to be considered after his shoulder surgery and Morne Morkel is the unlucky one to miss out.
"He is very much part of our long-term planning and has a major role to play but we would like to see more consistency from him at this stage."
Procter said one of the strengths of the team was that there were numerous options, with four spin bowlers, two all-rounders in Jacques Kallis and Albie Morkel as well as a strong pace attack.
"There is also batting potential most of the way down the order."
The Champions Trophy will be played at two venues, Centurion and Johannesburg, from September 22 to October 5.
South African squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha (vice-capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.
