Twenty-year-old Phillip Hughes will replace retired opener Matthew Hayden in Australia's squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa.
The left-hander, who has scored four hundreds, including a highest score of 198 for New South Wales, has aggregated 891 runs @ 74.25, this season.
Hayden retired after the recent series in Australia, which South Africa won 2-1.
The squad includes three other uncapped players in fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, batsman Marcus North and 36-year-old leg-spinner Bryce McGain.
With fast bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clarke unavailable because of injuries and troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds declared unavailable for selection until the completion of his counselling and rehabilitation, the squad is perhaps the most inexperienced to tour in two decades.
Australia play a three-day game against South Africa A from February 20 to 22 before the first Test in Johannesburg on February 26.
The squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Marcus North, Peter Siddle.