Benkenstein for Kirsten and Dawson for Telemachus in ICC Champions squad

The national selectors have made two changes to the South African squad to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next month.

Western Province pace bowler Roger Telemachus has been withdrawn from the squad as a precautionary measure for medical reasons. "Roger will see a doctor on Friday, but as a precaution we have decided to withdraw him from the squad," said the convenor of national selectors, Omar Henry, today.

Telemachus' Western Province team-mate Gary Kirsten has also been withdrawn from the squad. "We feel that Gary has a better chance of batting his way back into the mainstream playing in home conditions against Australia A than he would in Sri Lanka," Henry said.

Western Province swing bowler Alan Dawson replaces Telemachus in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy and KwaZulu-Natal captain and middle-order batsman Dale Benkenstein has been drafted to replace Kirsten. "Both of these players have a proven track record in the sub-continent and we believe they will be very well suited to the conditions in Sri Lanka," Henry said. He added: "There were other players who came into the picture, like Steve Elworthy and Neil McKenzie, but we preferred to keep them here in South Africa to be able to better measure them against Australia A."

South African squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2002:

Shaun Pollock (captain) KwaZulu-Natal
Dale Benkenstein KwaZulu-Natal
Nicky Boje Free State
Mark Boucher Border
Alan Dawson Western Province
Boeta Dippenaar Free State
Allan Donald Free State
Herschelle Gibbs Western Province
Jacques Kallis Western Province
Lance Klusener KwaZulu-Natal
Makhaya Ntini Border
Justin Ontong Boland
Jonty Rhodes KwaZulu-Natal
Graeme Smith Western Province

Coach: Eric Simons
Assistant Coach: Corrie van Zyl
Manager: Goolam Rajah
Fitness Co-Ordinator: Andrew Gray
Physiotherapist: Shane Jabaar

The national squad will have a training camp at SuperSport Park on 1-2 September.

The national selectors have also announced the South Africa A squad to play against Australia A in the first three one-day "internationals" of the Australia A tour, starting in Potchefstroom next week. The squad is captained by Northerns middle-order batsman Neil McKenzie.

SA A Squad: Neil McKenzie (capt) Northerns
Loots Bosman Griqualand West
Steve Elworthy Northerns
Andrew Hall Easterns
Mornantau Hayward Eastern Province
Justin Kemp Eastern Province
Gary Kirsten Western Province
Andre Nel Easterns
Mfuneko Ngam Eastern Province
Robin Peterson Eastern Province
Ashwell Prince Western Province
Jacques Rudolph Northerns
Errol Stewart KwaZulu-Natal
David Terbrugge Gauteng
Thami Tsolikile Western Province
Martin van Jaarsveld Northerns

Coach: Vincent Barnes
Assistant Coach: Russel Domingo
Physiotherapist: Ian Repton