SA call up Rudolph for second Test

Uncapped opening batsman Jacques Rudolph has been added to the South Africa squad for the second Test against India in Port Elizabeth beginning on Friday.

The 20-year-old, who opens the batting for Northern Titans province, has been in a rich vein of form this season and had already been tipped to tour Australia next month.

He scored three hundreds in four matches in South Africa's domestic first-class competition as well as another century against the touring Indians in the opening match of their tour, a non-first class fixture against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI.

Rudolph's call-up to the 12-man squad was welcomed by his provincial coach, Dave Nosworthy.

"He thoroughly deserves it," he said. "Even though he's so young he's had to wait because there was no place for him at the top of the order.

"But he can bat anywhere in the middle order as well. He has an incredibly strong mind."

South Africa won the first match of the three-Test series by nine wickets.

South African squad: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock (captain), Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Mornantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Rudolph.

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor