Pace bowler Chris Morris has also been restored to South Africa's squad for the first test against India which starts next Friday.
A fit-again Faf du Plessis will return to lead a full-strength South Africa squad, also comprising lead pacer Dale Steyn, for the first Test against India beginning here on January 5. Du Plessis and Steyn could not be part of the four-day Test against Zimbabwe due to illness.
Pace bowler Chris Morris has also been restored to South Africa's squad for the first test against India next week after recovering from a groin injury, Cricket South Africa said on Friday. Morris replaces Duanne Olivier in the 15-man squad for the test at Newlands in Cape Town, which starts next Friday. There is also a return for Quinton de Kock, who hurt his hamstring in the Boxing Day test and was unable to keep wicket in Zimbabwe's two innings.
South Africa won by an innings and 120 runs inside two days at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth. Ab de Villiers, who played his first Test in almost two years, had led South Africa to a comfortable win against Zimbabwe in Du Plessis' absence.
Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Andile Phehlukwayo form a formidable pace attack in the 15-member sqaud. There is stiff competition in the pace department and it remains to be seen who will b picked in the eleven alongside probable starters Rabada and Philander.
Morris has not played for South Africa since July when he suffered a back injury during the tour of England. Steyn, who is returning to action after a shoulder surgery that kept him out of the team for more than a year, has a good chance to play. Morkel has increased the selectors' headache by taking a five-wicket haul against in his comeback game against Zimbabwe.
De Kock, who pulled a hamstring while batting on day one of the one-off Test, has been named as the sole wicketkeeper in the squad. De Villiers had kept wickets in his absence.
The lone specialist spinner in the squad is left-armer Keshav Maharaj, who took a fifer in the second innings against Zimbabwe. Theunis de Bruyn, picked as a reserve batsman against Zimbabwe, retained his spot for the series-opener.
De Villiers' welcome return to the five-day format has bolstered the batting. He had a decent outing against Zimbabwe, scoring a 65-ball 53.
India, who have never won a Test series in South Africa, arrived here Thursday night after a long flight from Mumbai.
The remaining two games of the three-match Test series will be played in Centurion(Jan 13-17) and Johannesburg (Jan 24-28).
Squad:
Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Dale Steyn")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}