Matthews calls for Levi's inclusion in Proteas' ODI squad

Cape Town, Feb 21 : Former South African seam bowler and selector Craig Matthews believes batting sensation Richard Levi should automatically added to the Proteas one-day squad. After his smashing ton in a Twenty 20 fixture against New Zealand.

“There is nothing procedurally to prevent them (from adding one name to the currently 14-strong SA ODI squad),” Sport 24 quoted Matthews, as saying.

“I’d be shocked and very surprised if there hasn’t been, or very soon will be, a chat between Gary (Kirsten) and Hudders (selection convenor Andrew Hudson) agreeing that Levi should stay on after the T20s – even if it is just to give New Zealand’s bowlers more sleepless nights,” he added.

His statement came after Levi smashed 117 off 51 balls in the second T20 international against New Zealand at Hamilton.

Matthews also made comparisons between Levi and Herschelle Gibbs, with the former now considered a perfect fit into Gibbs’s slot at the top of the South African limited-overs order.

“There are obviously similarities in the rate they score at. I would say Levi shows a more ‘brutal’ approach; a fairly simple way of going about his business,” he said.

“They’re equally effective in their own ways: Levi all about pure power and Gibbs more with timing as an important factor. Richard has drawn up a game-plan that works for him. He’s a strong boy who muscles the ball over the ropes quite easily,” he added.

Former national captain Kepler Wessels has called for Levi’s inclusion in the ODI squad.

“Amazingly there seems to be doubt in some quarters whether Levi should be playing in the one-day internationals as well,” Wessels said.