AB de Villiers to be South Africa's wicketkeeper for first two Tests against England

AB will keep wickets in the first two Tests against England

AB de Villiers will have the additional responsibility of keeping wickets in the upcoming Test series against England as Cricket South Africa did not name any wicketkeeper in their squad for the first two Tests.

Dane Vilas, who kept wicket during the recently concluded Test series against India, was left out of the 13-man squad and Quinton de Kock, who was impressive in the ODI series against India and the ongoing Ram Slam T20 Challenge, wasn’t picked once again.

AB last donned the wicketkeeping gloves in the two Tests against West Indies earlier this year, when de Kock was injured and will do so once again as the selectors look to strengthen the batting department, which failed miserably against India.

"One of the issues that concerned us during the tour to India was the lack of depth to our batting, particularly in the lower order and the change in AB's role means that we can now have a specialist batsman at No. 7," CSA selection convener, Linda Zondi, said.

"We now feel that the side has a much better balance about it without in any way reducing the tactical options available to our captain, Hashim Amla.”

AB de Villiers, who has kept wicket in just 23 of his 102 Tests, is not the only surprise in the squad for the home series against England. Two of the three spinners who went to India were dropped, while Stiaan van Zyl, who had a disastrous tour keeps his place in the side.

Imran Tahir, who was the side’s leading wicket-taker in the Test series against India missed the cut, so did Simon Harmer, leaving Dane Piedt as the only specialist spinner in the squad.

"The return to South African conditions made it inevitable that we would only choose one specialist spinner with JP Duminy and Elgar both available as back-up and Dane [Piedt] is the man in possession,” Zondi said.

"Our batting line-up has served us well in the past in matches under our own conditions and I am confident they will be ready for the challenge in what is going to be a very tough series in which experience will play a vital role.”

Vernon Philander, who has been ruled out of the first two Tests with an ankle injury misses the cut, which means Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott were the four seamers in South Africa’s squad.

The first Test in Durban starts on Boxing Day, while the second in Cape Town starts on January 2.

South Africa squad: Hashim Amla (captain), AB de Villiers (wk), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl