England Lions are set for a clash with Dale Steyn later this summer after his surprise inclusion in one of the South Africa A squads due to arrive in the coming weeks.
The 33-year-old, who has 417 Test wickets and had a long reign at the top of the ICC’s world bowling rankings, is ready to launch his comeback from the shoulder injury he suffered in Australia last winter.
He has set a target of playing in two of the A-team’s three four-day matches in England to stake his claim for a recall in the Investec Test series in July and August – when five wickets would lift him above Shaun Pollock as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker.
The four-day section of the tour, which follows a three-match one-day series against the Lions at Trent Bridge and Northampton, begins with matches against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl from June 8-11, and continues against Sussex at Arundel from June 14-17 – before the climax against England Lions at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence from June 21-24.
The Lions then face the senior South Africa tourists in Worcester in a three-day match from June 29 – the Proteas’ last fixture before the first Investec Test at Lord’s.
Steyn is joined by several other players with senior international experience in the A-squads named by South Africa’s selectors for the one-day and four-day series.
Temba Bavuma, who has been included in the Test touring party, is in both squads, as are Theunis de Bruyn and Duanne Olivier, while off-spinner Dane Piedt is another familiar name in the red-ball squad.
The one-day squad will be captained by Khaya Zondo, with Aiden Markram, a 22-year-old who enjoyed a prolific domestic season for the Titans, leading the four-day party.
The Lions squad for the one-day series is due to be named on May 22, with a separate squad for the two first-class matches following in June.
England Lions fixtures, summer 2017
One-day series v South Africa A
Thursday June 1 – Trent Bridge
Saturday June 3 – Northampton
Monday June 5 – Northampton
Four-day match v South Africa A
June 21-24 – Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence (Canterbury)
Three-day match v South Africa
June 29 – July 1 – New Road, Worcester
South Africa A one-day squad:
Khaya Zondo (capt)
Reeza Hendricks
Jon Jon Smuts
Aiden Markram
Temba Bavuma
Theunis de Bruyn
Heino Kuhn
Dwaine Pretorius
Mangaliso Mosehle
Sisanda Magala
Tabraiz Shamsi
Lungi Ngidi
Duanne Olivier
Junior Dala
Dane Paterson
South Africa A four-day squad
Heino Kuhn
Aiden Markram (capt)
Theunis de Bruyn
Temba Bavuma
Khaya Zondo
Jason Smith
Heinrich Klaasen
Dwaine Pretorius
Rudi Second
Dane Piedt
Lungi Ngidi
Dane Paterson
Duanne Olivier
Junior Dala
Beuran Hendricks
Dale Steyn