McKenzie back in one-day squad

Neil McKenzie's maiden Test century in Port Elizabeth has been sufficient to earn him a recall to the South African one-day team for the first two internationals against Sri Lanka.

McKenzie, more or less a regular during South Africa's winter tour of Sri Lanka, Australia and Singapore, did not get a game during the ICC KnockOut 2000 tournament in Nairobi and then was left out of the squad for the home ODIs against New Zealand.

But his superb 120 at St George's Park coupled with Daryll Cullinan's decision to retire from one-day cricket has brought him back into the limited overs picture.

The South African selectors named a 13-man squad for the first two ODIs in Port Elizabeth and East London with McKenzie returning and Shafiek Abrahams, who played in the sixth ODI against New Zealand in Cape Town, dropping out.

Selection convener Rushdi Magiet explained that as the squad was chosen for only two matches (the final four in the series will be played in the New Year), there was thought to be no need for a backup spinner. He said that McKenzie would alternate with Boeta Dippenaar in the middle order for these two games.

Magiet also said that Andrew Hall would open the batting in both games. During the matches against New Zealand South Africa tried to employ Cullinan as an opening bat in what proved to be a misguided experiment.

There is also no place in the squad for Mfuneko Ngam, who made his Test debut in the rain-hit game at the Wanderers. There has been speculation that a slight shoulder injury which hampers Ngam's ability to throw might have cost Ngam an ODI place, but with Allan Donald now apparently over his stomach muscle strain, an extra fast bowler in a squad for just two games would have been one too many.

The squad is: Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Roger Telemachus, Allan Donald. Makhaya Ntini.