Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes have been awarded new contracts by South Africa's United Cricket Board after reversing their decisions to leave the Test arena.

However, it is likely that they would only appear in Test Matches in the event of injuries to other players.

The pair had told the board that they only wanted to be considered for One-Day Internationals but have now accepted that it would be difficult for the UCB to contract players just for limited-overs games.

Rhodes told South Africa's Mail & Guardian: "To simplify matters I have agreed to the UCB's request to make myself available for Test cricket once again.

"I would like to reiterate that I am not returning to Test cricket but this decision is to help the UCB solve certain issues that have arisen with my previous decision to be available only for the one-day version of the game."

After suffering a succession of injuries in recent years, Donald ended his successful spell in England with Warwickshire and was viewing the 2003 World Cup as the finale to his career.

But now both he and Rhodes have made themselves available for Test matches – but only as a last resort.

One player who has not been awarded one of the 12-month contracts is Daryll Cullinan after he decided to sign for Kent, so making himself unavailable for the series against Zimbabwe.

UCB chief executive officer Gerald Majola said: "When he comes back from Kent we will discuss his future in South African cricket."

The players handed one-year contracts by the United Cricket Board are: Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Paul Adams, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Mornantau Hayward, Justin Kemp, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Andre Nel, Mfuneko Ngam, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Jonty Rhodes, Roger Telemachus.

© CricInfo Ltd.