South Africa on Saturday (December 30) announced their depleted 14-member squad for the upcoming two-Test tour of New Zealand.

Uncapped Neil Brand will lead the Proteas against the Kiwis, with only three players from the squad currently playing India travelling with the team.

Brand boasts the experience of 51 first-class matches, in which he has amassed 2906 runs at an average of 39.27. He has also taken 72 first-class wickets with his slow left-arm orthodox spin.

The changes come as the Test series overlaps with the SA20 competition, where most of the contracted South African Test players will play.

"Firstly I would like to congratulate the players that will be going on a Proteas tour for the first time," South Africa’s Test coach Shukri Conrad said.

"It is a real honour to represent your country, so they should savour the moment.

"The players picked for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand and we have full confidence they will do exactly that when we arrive for the first Test match at Mount Maunganui.

"Most of these guys participated in the recent 'A' series against West Indies where they showed that they have what it takes against players of international calibre. That experience will no doubt leave them in a better position for what we expect to be a testing series in New Zealand."

Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza are the only three players in the touring party who feature in the Test squad for the Cape Town Test against India.

The squad includes six uncapped players with Duanne Olivier, capped 15 times in Tests, being the most experienced.

South Africa’s Test tour of New Zealand is slated to get underway on February 4 in Mount Maunganui. The second Test will be played in Hamilton from February 13.

South Africa Test Squad: Neil Brand (captain), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg, and Khaya Zondo.