Dippenaar to open, McKenzie to bat at five in first Test

Boeta Dippenaar has been recalled to open the batting for South Africa while Neil McKenzie will drop down the order to fill the gap at number five vacated by Jonty Rhodes in the first Test match against New Zealand which starts in Bloemfontein on November 17.

Also back in the side after missing the three Test matches in Sri Lanka is Allan Donald.

In a team that contains no real surprises, the only other serious debate about selection would concern the preference of Makhaya Ntini as third seamer ahead of Roger Telemachus who has been a first-choice new ball bowler for the South African one-day side this summer.

Selection convener Rushdi Magiet said his panel had gone for Ntini "because he is one of the fittest bowlers in world cricket". In tacit acknowledgement of Telemachus's reputation as a "one-spell" bowler, Magiet said: "Roger is much fitter now, but Makhaya suited us more because we know he can bowl 30 overs in an innings. Makhaya has a history of bowling long spells and he has a little more Test match experience than Roger."

Two other bowlers who would have come into contention, Nantie Hayward and Mfuneko Ngam, are both injured and were not considered, said Magiet.

Dippenaar last opened for South Africa a year ago when he and Adam Bacher filled in for Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs were both injured. With Gibbs serving a ban from international cricket because of his involvement in the match-fixing scandal, Magiet said: "We always wanted Boeta to open the batting. He was our first choice."

He said that there had been more competition for the number five spot left open by Rhodes's decision to retire from Test cricket.

"We looked at Neil and HD Ackerman for that position, but Neil scored 123 at the weekend and that probably tipped things his way. We know that he didn't do too well as an opener in Sri Lanka, but we think he's much more suited to batting at number five and we think he'll make a success of it," said Magiet.

The team given out has Lance Klusener at six followed by Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje, but Magiet said that the selectors were not rigid about this order. "We want the side to bat from one to five as we've announced it, but after that it's up to Shaun and the coach, Graham Ford to play as they see fit."

As expected, after taking two five-wicket hauls this year together with his recent explosive form with the bat, Nicky Boje is given the spinner's berth. It could hardly have been otherwise, and Paul Adams will have to play himself back into the side by taking wickets at provincial level.

"Paul will probably be considered if he bowls well," said Magiet. "We want him to regain his confidence. We also had to be fair to Nicky who has taken five wickets twice this year and is the man in possession."

Shafiek Abrahams has been named 12th man.

Team

Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil McKenzie, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (capt), Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini. Twelfthman: Shafiek Abrahams.