Nel back as South Africa option for pace

Andre Nel was on Friday named in a 15-man South African squad for a four-Test series in England starting in July.

Nel is one of five specialist fast bowlers in the squad. The others are Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and Monde Zondeki.

Nel, who was controversially omitted from a recent tour of India, has been added to the 14-man squad that went on that tour. Nel was not picked for India because Cricket South Africa's policy of racial targets for touring teams required six black players to be in the squad.

Selection convenor Joubert Strydom said the main motivation for picking Nel this time was the expected rate of attrition for fast bowlers on a tour which has two sets of back-to-back Test matches as well as three other first-class games.

South Africa, who won four series and shared the honours with India last season, have not won a series in on three tours since returning to international cricket in 1991,. They drew the 1994 and 2003 series and were beaten 2-1 in 1998.

The squad will assemble for a training camp on June 17 and leave for England a week later. The first Test starts at Lord's on July 10.

SQUAD

Graeme Smith (capt), Ashwell Prince (vice-capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Monde Zondeki