Kemp and Philander's World Twenty20 hopes get boost

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has trimmed the initial squad of 30 for the World Twenty20 2010 to be played in the Caribbean next month to 18, with the final squad of 15 to be announced on March 30.

CSA also named the Test and ODI squads for the tour of West Indies in May and June which follows the World Twenty20 as well as the South Africa A one-day and four-day squads for the tour of Bangladesh in April.

Juan Theron, who helped the Warriors to the domestic Pro20 title, is the only uncapped player in the reduced World Twenty20 squad, which also includes Justin Kemp and Vernon Philander.

Kemp and Philander are part of the Cape Cobras side, and have not played internationally since the 2007 tour of Pakistan and the 2008 tour of England respectively. Kemp most recently featured for the Chennai Super Kings in their opening match of the IPL's third season against Deccan Chargers.

The Test squad for the tour of West Indies is unchanged from the 15-man team that drew the two-match series 1-1 in India.

Herschelle Gibbs and Albie Morkel, though, were missing from the ODI squad that played in India. Graeme Smith, who broke his finger while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and was ruled out of the tournament, has been named in the one-day squad along with Ryan McLaren who was called up as an allrounder.

Players promoted to the A level for the first time include Colin Ingram, Stiaan van Zyl, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw and Jonathan Vandiar. Rossouw and Vandiar have stepped up from the under-19 ranks while Miller is only one year older. In fact, Rossouw and van Zyl both played for the emerging squad last winter, though Vandiar missed out due to injury.

There is also a change in the captaincy of the South Africa A squad with Thami Tsolekile being recognised for his leadership that took the Lions to the final of the Pro20.

"Our aim at the moment is to build formidable squads both for the approaching World Twenty20 as well as for the World Cup next year," said coach Corrie van Zyl. "An important part of this is to achieve consistency on the field and an important contribution to that will be to be consistent in the selection process as well.

"This may involve changing the starting XI as we play against different opponents under differing conditions.

"The door is not closed on any individual as far as future selection is concerned," he added. "But we believe that the combinations we have are the best to suit our purposes at the moment."

Squad for ICC World Twenty20: Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Juan Theron, Roelof van der Merwe

ODI squad for West Indies: Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe

Test squad for West Indies: Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe