McKenzie added to second Test squad

South Africa's unexpected defeat in the first Test in Port Elizabeth against West Indies has prompted the selectors to call up Neil McKenzie to strengthen the batting. McKenzie, who hasn't played a Test for over three years, will join the existing 12-man squad for the second Test starting in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The South African batsmen struggled in both innings in Port Elizabeth, bundled out for 195 and 260 as they lost by 128 runs. Their biggest concern would be opener Herschelle Gibbs, who made a pair. Coach Mickey Arthur admitted those concerns but didn't feel the need for a major overhaul.

"There is no panic but we have decided to strengthen our top order batting," Arthur said. McKenzie, a middle-order batsman, is most likely to replace Gibbs and Arthur was confident he had the technique to open the batting.

McKenzie has been on the fringes of a recall after a fine domestic season, scoring 501 runs for the Lions in seven SuperSport Series matches. He also made 182 and 34 for South Africa A against the New Zealanders and 54 against the West Indians before the first Test, a match in which he captained the side to a 10-wicket win.

He was called up as cover for the injured AB de Villiers for the second Test against New Zealand at Centurion but eventually missed out as de Villiers was later declared fit.