The selectors have named an unchanged squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan, which starts with the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday.
Convenor of selectors Haroon Lorgat said on Saturday that he was very pleased with the way South Africa had performed in the last two Tests against India. South Africa won the series two-one.
Lorgat said that while the one-day squad was working very well, the Test squad was still being developed.
”It is a long-term process,” he said. ”We are looking ahead to 2008 when we play England in England and Australia in Australia. We believe our one-day team can beat any team in the world, and we are now working on building the Test squad so that we can beat both England and Australia in one year.
”Building a team takes at least two years,” he continued. ”But now we have depth in batting and in bowling. After the World Cup, we’re going to be focusing on the Test team. We want big first-innings scores and we want to put other teams under pressure.”
He had special words of praise for Morne Morkel and Paul Harris, who both made their debut in the series against India.
”There is definitely something there for us to work on,” he said.
Lorgat said he was particularly happy that the captain Graeme Smith had returned to form and had made significant runs in his last three innings.
”But if a player has a slump in form it’s better that it happens at the start of a season,” said Lorgat. ”He has some momentum now, and can go on from there.” — Sapa
Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis (vice-captain), Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn