The South African selectors sprang a surprise on Thursday when they added wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to their squad for the deciding two Test matches against England.

Boucher is part of a squad of 14 for the fourth and fifth Tests in Johannesburg and Centurion, starting on January 13 and 21 respectively.

Boucher, 28, was dropped for the tour of India in November after making a record 75 successive Test appearances for South Africa.

Boucher replaced Thami Tsolekile in the only change to the squad. Tsolekile played in two Tests in India and the first Test against England before being replaced as wicketkeeper by AB de Villiers for the second and third Tests.

De Villiers, 20, kept wicket impressively and made a valuable 52 not out in helping South Africa save the second Test in Durban.

Selection convenor Haroon Lorgat said the selectors wanted to have the maximum amount of experience in the squad going into the final two Tests of a series which is locked at 1-1.

Lorgat pointed out that it was not certain whether Boucher would be in the starting line-up. "We have to debate several options," he said.

One option may be to play De Villiers as a specialist batsman, possibly in place of Hashim Amla, with Boucher playing as a wicketkeeper and batting at number seven.

Swing bowler Charl Langeveldt, who took five for 46 on debut in the first innings at Newlands despite having suffered a broken bone in his left hand while batting, was included in the squad.

Lorgat said it was hoped Langeveldt would be fit to play in Johannesburg. He said there was enough bowling strength in the squad to choose from if Langeveldt could not play.

The squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Nicky Boje (vice-captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn.