JOHANNESBURG, Feb 2: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has declared the names of 15 players who have been given a yearly contract with the national squad — from May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009.

Paul Harris, Johan Botha, Morne Morkel, and J.P. Duminy have been named in the contracted players’ list for the first time, and they all have taken the places of Shaun Pollock, Boeta Dippenaar and Andrew Hall, all having announced their retirements from international cricket, and Justin Kemp, who was one of the five South African Cricket Annual Cricketers of the Year in 2007.

Commenting on Pollock’s absence from the list, Cricket South Africa CEO, Gerard Majola, said: “The Proteas contracted players’ list without the name Shaun on it is something of a shock to all of us and it certainly marks the end of a remarkable career.

“As they said of Adam Gilchrist, Polly in your team meant that you had 12 players on the field and South African cricket will miss him enormously,” Majola expressed. “We have also lost two other players to retirement in Boeta Dippenaar and Andrew Hall, and Justin Kemp is no longer contracted to the Proteas.”

While he said replacing four senior players will be a difficult task, Majola was encouraged by the ability of CSA’s franchise and high-performance systems to produce young cricketers who can fare productively at the top level.

The four newcomers — Harris, Botha, Duminy and Morkel — have been regular performers for South Africa in recent matches.

Harris, the left-arm spinner who made his debut in the 2006-07 Test series against India, has become South Africa’s first-choice slow bowler, with 30 wickets in his first 10 matches. He also recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in the opening Test against Pakistan in Karachi.

Meanwhile, Botha has established himself in the ODI squad with his off-spin and contributions with the bat.

Morkel, the paceman, also made his debut in the home series against India, and fared consistently in the Afro-Asia Cup in India. He missed out on South Africa’s tour to Pakistan and the following home contest against New Zealand due to injury, but made an impression in his comeback during the ongoing five-match ODI series against the West Indies. Having featured in three of the four matches held so far, Morkel, with seven wickets at 20.71, is the leading wicket-taker in the series.

South Africa face an international schedule full of activity, with tours to Bangladesh, India, England and Australia.

Contracted players: Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, A.B. de Villiers, J.P. Duminy Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt,

Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn.—Agencies