Kleinveldt to play in final Test against Pakistan

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) –

New Zealand’s batsman Robert Nicol makes a safe drive as South African Rory Kleinveldt (right) tries to run him out during their T20 match in Port Elizabeth at St George’s Park on December 26, 2012. Kleinveldt will replace fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel in the South African team for the third and final Test against Pakistan starting at Centurion.

Rory Kleinveldt will replace fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel in the South African team for the third and final Test against Pakistan starting at Centurion on Friday.

Selection convener Andrew Hudson confirmed on Tuesday that Morkel would not play because of a hamstring injury which twice forced him off the field during the second Test which ended in Cape Town on Sunday.

It will be Kleinveldt’s fourth Test cap.

He made his debut when South Africa opted for an all-pace attack in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane last November and made two subsequent appearances when Vernon Philander was unfit.

Dolphins fast bowler Kyle Abbott, the leading wicket-taker in South Africa’s domestic four-day competition which ended recently, has been added to the squad as cover.

South Africa, who won both the first two Tests, will go into the final match knowing they are guaranteed a $450,000 bonus for being on top of the International Cricket Council rankings at the April 1 cut-off date.

South African Test squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Rory Kleinveldt, Jacques Rudolph, Kyle Abbott.