Steven Finn has been added to England’s touring party in South Africa after overcoming a bone stress injury in his left foot.
The Middlesex fast bowler will join the rest of the squad in Potchefstroom on Monday after proving his fitness in two Twenty20 matches for the England Lions against Pakistan A in United Arab Emirates.
Finn was initially left out of the 16-man squad for the four-Test series in South Africa but his addition will strengthen England’s options as they prepare to take on the world’s No1 side in seam-friendly conditions.
Team medics are satisfied Finn has fully recovered from the injury he sustained during the build-up to the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE in October.
However, it is understood he will not be considered for selection for the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Boxing Day as he is still short on match fitness. Instead, England are targeting the second Test in Cape Town, which starts on 2 January for a possible return.
The 26-year-old’s recovery has been swift and he followed up a return of three for 22 in his first game back for the England Lions last Friday in Dubai with one for 30 in their fourth T20 against Pakistan A on Sunday.
“I’ve been really pleased with the way things have gone with the Lions,” said Finn. “I’ve bowled my overs and my foot has come through fine. I’m excited by the prospect of linking up with the team out in South Africa.”
Speaking on Saturday, the England head coach Trevor Bayliss was cagey about Finn’s possible addition to the squad, saying: “We’re planning for this tour without him and if he proves his fitness in the UAE and we do decide to bring him out here, that will be an absolute bonus.”
Finn made a spectacular return during last summer’s Edgbaston Ashes Test, taking eight wickets to help England to a victory that proved decisive to their eventual series success. That was his first Test in two years after he had been branded “unselectable” following a nightmare tour of Australia during the winter of 2013-14.
