Kallis makes the final 15 for South Africa in T20 World Cup

South Africa has named its final 15 for the World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka this September – that has Graeme Smith missing out. However, veteran Jacques Kallis will make a comeback to the side. Kallis was a regular member till 2010 when South Africa toured the West Indies. Kallis was also a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL-winning squad this year, having scored 409 runs in 17 games with 15 wickets. He provided the required solidity at the top and his ever-dependable bowling skills helped the team in the end. South Africa will be looking at capitalizing on the asset they have in the form of Kallis.

AB deVilliers will lead the side in the absence of Smith who, after being picked in the probable 30 did not make the final 15. AB deVilliers also provided great batting strength to the Royal Challengers Bangalore during the IPL, coming to aid, to win them quite a few games. Steyn, Duminy,the Morkel brothers, du Plessis have all been great contributors to their respective IPL teams – all of who have had a good last season – which will give them enormous confidence approaching the tournament.

The 21-year-old Marchant de Lange has missed out on the marquee tournament due to a lower back injury that he had sustained during the triangular Twenty20 series, which also resulted in him missing out on the on-going England tour.

Along with Kallis, Van der Merwe makes a comeback into the side after two whole years. In the 12 T20 games that he has played, he has bagged 14 wickets with an economy of 6.93. Three wicket-keepers have been named in the 15-man squad: captain AB de Villiers, the other two being Morne van Wyk and Dane Vilas.

The South African squad however, is pretty much the same as it has been in the past year and quite a few of them have performed at an elite level in the IPL – South Africa will take that as a great positive going into the World Twenty20 series. The fact that South Africa comprises of such a balanced side of performers, gives them an added advantage approaching the tournament. It will be interesting to see how the Proteas fare in the absence of the crafty Smith, with deVilliers in charge.

South Africa T20 Team: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.