Published: Jan 21, 2013, 10:18 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 21, 2013, 10:18 AM (IST)
Vernon Philander replaced Ryan McLaren in the South African side © Getty Images
Johannesburg: Jan 21, 2013
South African seamer Vernon Philander, who missed the last Test against New Zealand owing to a hamstring injury, has returned to the squad for the first cricket Test against Pakistan.
He replaced all-rounder Ryan McLaren in the side.
Philander had bagged the Man of the Match award in first Test against New Zealand in Newlands before he was ruled out of the second Test match in Port Elizabeth with a hamstring injury. South Africa clinched the series 2-0.
Philander’s replacement in the last Test seamer Rory Kleinveldt, and Jacques Rudolph will again provide the bowling and batting cover for the squad.
“We are very happy with the job that Rory did against New Zealand when Vernon dropped out while Jacques provides us with a lot of experience as the cover batsman,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) selection convener Andrew Hudson said.
The first Test match against Pakistan will be played at Wanderers in Johannesburg from February 1.
South Africa Test squad for first Test:
Graeme Smith (c), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Jacques Rudolph, Rory Kleinveldt.
