Shamsi, Maharaj included in South Africa Test team for Australia tour

South Africa have named three uncapped players in their 16-man squad for the three-Test series against Australia in November. Tabraiz Shamsi, left-armer, Keshav Maharaj and left-hand batsman Rillee Rossouw are the three new faces in the squad.

The side will be without regular captain AB de Villiers, who has a left-elbow injury. De Villiers had said that he hoped to be a part of the Test side for the third Test in Adelaide, which is a day-night encounter, and might still make the squad if he's able to prove his fitness by then.

De Villiers had surgery of his left-elbow earlier and the six-week time-frame for full recovery means he will be out of action until at least the start of the second Test, at Hobart - on November 12. The batsman reckoned he has a shot at playing the final Test, if he can join the rest of the team in Hobart.

Shamsi and Rossouw are already with the South African ODI team playing against Australia at home. Maharaj, a 26-year-old bowling allrounder from Natal, has played 76 first-class matches for 275 wickets and 1871 runs.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel has made a return to the Test side after missing out on the home series against New Zealand due to injury. However, Morkel needs to first prove his fitness in the Sunfoil Series match between the Multiply Titans and the Warriors which starts at St. George's Park on Tuesday (October 11). Dean Elgar, too, has made a successful return from injury.

"Shamsi has made huge progress over the course of the last year in the longer format," commented CSA selection convener Linda Zondi. "He took 41 wickets at an average of less than 20 in seven matches in last season's Sunfoil Series and he certainly offers something different as an attacking spinner. Maharaj is also right on top of his game. He took 13 wickets in the Sunfoil Series match at the weekend and also made a run-a-ball 72."

The squad includes five pacers and two specialist spinners. Leg spinner Imran Tahir continues to be out of the reckoning, having last played Tests for South Africa in the series against India late last year. Dane Piedt, too, does not find a spot in the side, with the South African selectors opting to pick spinners who can take the ball away from the right-hander.

"Basically, we are following a horses for courses policy as we feel that spinners who turn the ball away from the right-hander are going to be particularly useful under Australian conditions and against the Test batsmen we are likely to face. I am excited about the cover we have in this area with a wrist spinner and a left-arm orthodox spinner with JP Duminy able to offer the right-arm variety as well.

Rossouw is a regular face in the South African limited-overs sides, having played 35 One-Day Internationals and 15 T20 Internationals thus far. The 27-year-old has played 78 first-class matches and has scored over 5000 runs at an average of 44.21.

"Rilee Rossouw has earned his batting place also with good form in last season's Sunfoil Series and he is also on top of his game at the moment," Zondi concluded.

Test squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Stephen Cook, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Dane Vilas