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Dale Steyn to face England Lions

South African quickie Dale Steyn has been selected to face England Lions in July and August.

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