Boucher recalled

Mark Boucher has been given a recall to the South African Test squad © Getty Images

Mark Boucher has been named in the South African squad for the last two Tests against England. Boucher last played for the Test side during the tour of Sri Lanka last August. He had played 74 consecutive matches before being dropped for their tour to India in November. Thami Tsolekile, who replaced him on that tour and kept wicket in the first Test at Port Elizabeth, has been released to turn out for Western Province Boland. Boucher's selection clears the way for AB de Villiers, who has kept in the last two matches, to open the batting as there are concerns about the form of Herschelle Gibbs there.

"I'm absolutely delighted, but also quite shocked to be recalled now," Boucher told Reuters from Centurion, where he was playing for Warriors against Titans in a SuperSport Series match. "I thought my chance to be involved in the series had gone when I wasn't selected in the second and third Test squads because we had no domestic cricket. All I've been able to play over the festive season is beach cricket. I'd be lying if I didn't think at one stage that my international career might be over."

Haroon Lorgat, the convenor of selectors, explained the decision: "With the series now locked at one-all with two to play, experience is going to be a critical factor in the outcome of the last two Tests, and Mark brings plenty of that to the squad environment."

Charl Langeveldt, who fractured a bone in his left hand at Cape Town, is in the squad pending a fitness test before the fourth Test. A replacement will be called up if he is not fit.

The fourth Test starts next Monday (January 13) at the Wanderers ground in Johannesburg.

Squad Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt.