South Africa’s master-blaster Lance Klusener was the most notable absentee as the South African cricket selectors made four changes to their squad on Monday for the final match of the one-day international series against Bangladesh.
Klusener has failed to fire with the bat this season and his place was taken by Eastern Province Jumbo’s hard-hitting batsman Robin Peterson.
Although Klusener has been effective with the ball recently, it was not enough to save his place and team management are now in a race to get him back to top form ahead of the World Cup in just over four months time.
Peterson, who is also an effective left arm spinner — with one ODI cap to his name — is joined by Steve Elworthy, Ashwell Prince and Jonty Rhodes.
The four were named to replace Klusener, Justin Ontong, Dale Benkenstein and Errol Stewart for the final match to be played in Kimberley on Wednesday.
Rhodes returns after recovering from a hand injury, while Elworthy and Prince get another opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the World Cup squad.
South Africa have already clinched the three-match series, having routed the visitors in the first two games. On Sunday, opening batsmen Graeme Smith and in particular Herschelle Gibbs pounded the Bangladesh attack to all corners of Willowmoore Park to register an easy ten-wicket win.
Chasing 155 for victory, Gibbs smashed 97 runs in only 66 balls, while Smith weighed in with a valuable 48 as the hosts scored the winning runs in the 21st over.
South African squad: Shaun Pollock (captain), Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Steve Elworthy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Ashwell Prince, Jonty Rhodes, Graeme Smith, Martin van Jaarsveld. – Sapa