Stars back in ODI action
De Villiers, Steyn, Miller, selected to play for SA
AB de Villiers will return to action in the six one-day internationals SA will play against Ireland and Australia from September 25. De Villiers‚ who missed two tests against New Zealand last month with an elbow injury‚ was named yesterday in the squads to play both opponents.
Dale Steyn and David Miller are back in the mix having last played an ODI for SA against India in Mumbai in October – 12 games in the format ago.
Steyn stormed back after months out with injury, taking 10 wickets at 10.20 in just 42.2 overs against the Kiwis.
He is in the squad to play Australia.
Miller led the averages and was the second-highest scorer in the quadrangular A-team one-day series in Australia that ended earlier this month. He was picked in both squads.
Morne Morkel‚ whose back problem kept him out of the Kiwi tests‚ and Rilee Rossouw‚ who has not played since injuring a shoulder during SA’s tour to West Indies in June‚ are still sidelined.
“Morne Morkel and Rilee Rossouw were not considered for selection as they continue to recover from injury and a lack of match fitness respectively‚ while AB de Villiers is on track to return from the injury that kept him out of the test series against New Zealand‚” selection convenor Linda Zondi was quoted as saying in a release. Temba Bavuma and Dwaine Pretorius are part of the squad to play Ireland while Andile Phehlukwayo‚ the third-highest wicket-taker in A-team series‚ will be involved in both engagements.
Among those three players only Bavuma has international experience – in test cricket.
“As far as Temba Bavuma is concerned we want to see what he can do in the ODI format after the extremely successful run he has had in the test squad where he has averaged 66 during the current calendar year‚” Zondi was quoted as saying.
SA squads: To play Ireland: AB de Villiers (captain)‚ Temba Bavuma‚ Farhaan Behardien‚ Quinton de Kock‚ JP Duminy‚ Faf du Plessis‚ David Miller‚ Chris Morris‚ Wayne Parnell‚ Aaron Phangiso‚ Andile Phehlukwayo‚ Dwaine Pretorius‚ Kagiso Rabada.
To play Australia: AB de Villiers (captain)‚ Kyle Abbott‚ Hashim Amla‚ Farhaan Behardien‚ Quinton de Kock‚ JP Duminy‚ Faf du Plessis‚ Imran Tahir‚ David Miller‚ Chris Morris‚ Wayne Parnell‚ Aaron Phangiso‚ Andile Phehlukwayo‚ Kagiso Rabada‚ Tabraiz Shamsi‚ Dale Steyn. Fixtures: Sept 25: SA v Ireland‚ Sahara Park Willowmoore (10am start)
Sept 30: SA v Australia‚ Centurion (1.30pm)
Oct 2: SA v Australia‚ Wanderers (10am)
Oct 5: SA v Australia‚ Kingsmead (1.30pm)
Oct 9: SA v Australia‚ St George’s Park (10am)
Oct 12: SA v Australia‚ Newlands (1.30pm)
