South African cricket captain Graeme Smith, having described Lance Klusener as disruptive, said on Tuesday the all-rounder had ”come a long way”.
Klusener, having settled out of court with the United Cricket Board and following the injury to Andrew Hall, was drafted into the 14-man South African squad for the first two one-day internationals against the West Indies.
”One man is not bigger than the team,” added Smith after captaining South Africa to a 3-0 series win over the West Indies at Centurion.
”Lance now has the opportunity to fit into the team’s structures and cultures. He certainly has the ability.” There was also a recall for Ashwell Prince while young Easterns allrounder Albie Morkel is given his first opportunity in the senior side.
Morkel, who performed extremely well on the South Africa A tour to Australia last summer, cemented his place with a run-a-ball century against the Windies in Benoni 10 days ago.
While Morkel takes the step up from the A side to the national side, Neil McKenzie moves in the opposite direction.
McKenzie’s extraordinary in and out career continued anew when he was named captain of the A side after being part of the squad that won the series in October.
Also included in the A side, who met the Windies in Paarl on Friday, is Nicky Boje.
Boje fractured his ankle during the England tour last winter. A solid performance though would put the Free State spinner in prime position for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.
SA squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Albie Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Morne van Wyk.
SA A side: Neil McKenzie (captain), Martin van Jaarsveld, Loots Bosman, Hashim Amla, Justin Ontong, Justin Kemp, Nicky Boje, Thami Tsolekile, Garnett Kruger, Mfuneko Ngam, Roger Telemachus 12th JP Duminy. – Sapa