Dale Steyn back for English Test

Durban: South Africa and England meet at Kingsmead from Saturday in the first of four Tests between two evenly-match teams, both seeking a return to winning ways.

South Africa were trounced 0-3 by India recently in their biggest setback since becoming the top-ranked Test team in 2012, while England were beaten 0-2 by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in their most recent Test series.

Both teams will relish a return to more familiar conditions after struggling on slow, spin-friendly pitches during their defeats. The absence of leading bowler James Anderson because of a calf strain is a major blow to England at a ground where swing bowlers often prosper, while the return to action after injury of Dale Steyn is a boost for South Africa.

But England have reason for confidence after showing outstanding form in two warm-up games, while South Africa’s batsmen, most of whom failed in India, were unable to rediscover their best form while playing in four-day domestic matches, in South Africa with only Temba Bavuma making a half-century in the match.