Johannesburg – Warriors star Johan Botha has been brought back into South Africa’s Test cricket squad for the first time since the 2008 tour of Bangladesh for next month’s tour of India.

The Proteas leave for India on January 30 and will play two Tests and three ODIs.

“It is important to have a second specialist spin bowling option for a Test series in India,” said selection boss Mike Procter. “We feel this squad covers all our tactical options.”

Big-hitting opening batsman Loots Bosman has been recalled to the one-day squad.

“There are several players who are unlucky not to make the ODI squad, including Hashim Amla, Ryan McLaren and Charl Langeveldt and I must emphasise they are all still in the running for the World Cup next year,” Procter added.

The squads are:

Test: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

One-day: Smith, Loots Bosman, Botha, Boucher, De Villiers, Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Parnell, Petersen, Steyn, Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe. – Sapa