Heir to the Kallis throne?

Uncapped 24-year-old Rilee Rossouw has been called up to replace retired Jacques Kallis in South Africa’s squad for the three-match ODI Series against Zimbabwe next month as well as the triangular tournament that follows that also includes Australia.

The left-handed batsman made a century and a pair of fifties to be one of the best performers on South Africa A’s recent tour of Australia.

“Rilee is coming off a very impressive South Africa A series in Australia in which he scored 337 runs at an average of 48 with a strike rate of 96,” said Cricket South Africa (CSA) selection convener, Andrew Hudson.

“He has also been a consistent performer in franchise cricket for some time and his selection is well deserved.

“The message is clear to all our players: if you perform at domestic level and then take it through to SA A level, you will be rewarded.”

The Proteas have also opted to give their frontline pace attack a break from action.

“We have decided to rest Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander for the series against Zimbabwe although they will return for the triangular series that follows,” Hudson said.

“Their replacements are Marchant de Lange, Kyle Abbott and Mthokozisi Shezi.”

De Lange (14 wickets at 21) and Shezi (11 wickets at 15) were the two leading bowlers for South Africa A, with the former making his return for the Proteas after being sidelined for a long period through injury and the latter a first-time addition to the squad.

Hudson added that the squad would only be finalised for the triangular at the end of the Zimbabwe Series.

South Africa squad for Zimbabwe Series: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla (vc), Kyle Abbott, Quinton de Kock, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Rilee Rossouw, Mthokozisi Shezi.