SYDNEY, Dec 31: Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje has been rushed back into the South African squad for the final Test against Australia starting here Wednesday in a last-ditch move to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash.

The South African management said Boje, just recovered from injury, had been added to the squad in response to a request from the tour selectors but wouldn’t arrive in Australia until New Year’s Day, just a day before the final Test is due to begin.

Boje, the team’s most experienced spinner, was an original selection for the tour, but was forced to withdraw because of a knee problem, Claude Henderson replacing him.

Boje’s late inclusion suggests the Proteas are planning to play two spinners on the turn-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) wicket although they would not confirm it. Their scheduled training session on arrival in Sydney was cancelled.

South African team manager Goolam Rajah said the Proteas were feeling down after losing the first two matches of the three-game series but were determined to turn things around.

“It’s not the end of the world. We’ve just got to pick up the pieces and get stuck in,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brad Williams replaces injured fast bowler Jason Gillespie in a 14-man Australian squad named Monday for a one-day series against New Zealand and South Africa.

The tournament starts with a day-night match in Melbourne against New Zealand on Jan 11 and runs to Feb 10.

The only current Test regular to miss out was opener Justin Langer.

The additions to the current Test squad are one-day specialists Michael Bevan, Ian Harvey and Andrew Symonds.

New Zealand were expected to confirm their squad in early January. South Africa have already announced that pace bowler Charl Langeveldt, batsman Jonty Rhodes and all-rounder Justin Kemp will fly in for the series to replace three unnamed players in the Test squad already in Australia.

Gillespie was named in the Australia ‘A’ team as he tries to get fit for the upcoming tour of South Africa in February.

Gillespie had to pull out of the second Test against South Africa in Melbourne with a shoulder injury and he will also miss the third Test in Sydney.

If he passes a fitness assessment at the end of the week, he will play in Australia ‘A’s two matches against the touring New Zealand and South Africa sides on Jan 8 and 10.

Australian squad: Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andrew Bichel, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Brad Williams.

Australia ‘A’ squad: Darren Lehmann (captain), Simon Katich, Greg Blewett, Nathan Bracken, Ryan Campbell, Stuart Clark, *Jason Gillespie, Mark Higgs, Michael Hussey, Shane Lee, Stuart MacGill, Jimmy Maher (* subject to fitness test).—AFP/Reuters