JOHANNESBURG, May 23: South Africa’s new selection convenor, Omar Henry, made his first major move since his appointment two weeks ago with the announcement Thursday of a preliminary World Cup training squad of 31 players.

Henry was at pains to insist that nobody excluded from the squad should regard themselves as certain non-starters for the tournament which begins in South Africa in 10 months time.

“No player is out of sight, out of mind or out of the picture,” Henry said.

The squad includes fast bowling all rounder Steve Elworthy who will turn 38 at the beginning of the tournament and batsman Hashim Amla who will still be 18 when it begins.

Paceman Mfuneko Ngam is one of 12 black players in the squad.

Squad: Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Dale Benkenstein, Gulam Bodi, Nicky Boje, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Steve Elworthy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Mornantau Hayward, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Charl Langeveldt, Neil McKenzie, Andre Nel, Mfuneko Ngam, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jonty Rhodes, Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Roger Telemachus, Thami Tsolekile, Martin van Jaarsveld.—Reuters