Big gainer: Alviro Petersen © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Friedel de Wet | Ryan McLaren | Alviro Petersen Series/Tournaments: England tour of South Africa Teams: South Africa

Alviro Petersen, Ryan McLaren and Friedel de Wet are the new faces in an expanded 15-man squad for the first Test against England in Centurion starting on December 16. South Africa's selectors dropped the opening batsman Imraan Khan and allrounder Albie Morkel, who featured in South Africa's starting line-up from their last Test in March, with Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel returning.

Petersen, the Lions batsman, has been South Africa's leading run-scorer during the one-day series, scoring three half-centuries in three innings. McLaren, the Eagles allrounder, has similarly been impressing during the limited-overs leg of England's tour. de Wet, the Lions fast bowler, has yet to represent his country but is one marked out for the future. Wayne Parnell, who was in a 12-man pool for that last Test against Australia this year, has been retained.

"We have chosen an enlarged squad to cover all our options," said selection convener Mike Procter. "Alviro Petersen deserves his call-up both for the impressive way he has returned to international cricket and the weight of runs he has made in domestic cricket. He is able to cover all of the top six batting positions.

"Ryan McLaren provides us with an allrounder if we want to go down that route and we want both Wayne Parnell and Friedel de Wet to work in the national squad set-up."

The first Test will be Makhaya Ntini's 100th, making him the fifth player to reach the landmark. Jacques Kallis (130), Mark Boucher (125), Shaun Pollock (108) and Gary Kirsten (101).

The South African squad will gather on December 11 for a pre-Test series camp at Potchefstroom's Senwes Park.

South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, Friedel de Wet, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn.