Scott Boland has been included in Australia's 16-player squad travelling to South Africa for next month's three-Test series against the Proteas.

The 37-year-old seamer did not feature in last month's drawn series against Bangladesh in northern Australia, but the need for his services within a packed schedule over the coming 12 months was hinted at by skipper Pat Cummins.

"It's always a pretty tight call. It's one of those ones where there's not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up," Cummins said when Australia's XI was selected for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin.

"But he knows his worth and how good he is. I'm sure he'll be out there at some point pretty soon."

After appearing in all five matches of the recent summer's Ashes campaign, Boland slipped back behind a fit pace brigade of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, joined by veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.

Michael Neser, spin option Matthew Kuhnemann, allrounders Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green and Beau Webster join the incumbent first-choice bowlers and Boland in the squad for what promises to be a fiery series.

It's the Australian men's team's first time back to South Africa since 2018, which resulted in 'sandpapergate' saga.

Out of form number three Marnus Labuschagne has retained his spot in the squad despite heavy question marks around his place in the Test make up, with Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey and Travis Head rounding out those flying over.

"This is a reasonably condensed three-game series, on the back of six one-day internationals, with only short breaks between each game," chief selector George Bailey said on Monday.

"The squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face."

The first of three ODIs is scheduled for September 24 in Durban before the tour moves to its red-ball portion from October 9.

Durban hosts the first Test, followed by fixtures in Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) and Cape Town.