South Africa recalls spinner Peterson for WI tests

JOHANNESBURG (AP) " South Africa recalled left-arm spinner Robin Peterson on Tuesday for the three-test home series against West Indies this month.

West Indies will be missing batsman Chris Gayle after the hard-hitting left-hander was ruled out with injury.

South Africa dropped legspinner Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt is not fit, meaning Peterson returned as the only specialist spinner for the top-ranked Proteas.

Batsman JP Duminy was missing as he continues his rehabilitation from injury, but Cricket South Africa said Duminy might be considered for selection in the latter part of the series depending on his recovery from the persistent left knee problem that cut short his participation in the recent limited-overs tour of Australia.

South Africa picked uncapped batsmen Temba Bavuma and Stiaan van Zyl, and bowler Kagiso Rabada, with Bavuma and Rabada selected in the test squad for the first time.

The West Indies Cricket Board named a 15-man squad for the series and insisted it will go ahead after an internal pay dispute led to the team abandoning the tour of India in October.

Gayle was in the initial squad but the WICB said on Monday that the opening batsman, who has been playing domestic cricket in South Africa, was now unavailable with an unspecified injury. He was replaced by Devon Smith.

The first test begins in Centurion, near Pretoria, on Dec. 17, and is followed by matches in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

The teams will also play three Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals, final preparations for both ahead of the 50-over World Cup in February.