Twenty-year-old Phillip Hughes will replace retired opener Matthew Hayden [ Images ] in Australia's [ Images ] squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa [ Images ].

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 [ Images ], batsman Marcus North and 36-year-old leg-spinner Bryce McGain.

With fast bowlers Brett Lee [ Images ] and Stuart Clarke unavailable because of injuries and troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] (captain), Michael Clarke [ Images ] (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin [ Images ], Nathan Hauritz [ Images ], Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey [ Images ], Mitchell Johnson [ Images ], Simon Katich [ Images ], Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Marcus North, Peter Siddle [ Images ].