Steyn to stay sidelined for Delhi Test

Captain Hashim Amla has confirmed South Africa will again be without premier paceman Dale Steyn for the fourth and final Test with India in Delhi, which starts on Thursday.

Steyn's participation in the series opener in Mohali was limited by a groin problem and the 32-year-old went on to miss the next two Tests as India secured the series with one match to spare.

The Proteas will once more have to cope with the absence of the five-day game's number-one ranked bowler as they seek to build momentum ahead of four Tests with England.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Amla said: "I can confirm that Dale Steyn is not going to be fit. Dale is not playing in this game."

Amla added: "We have the England series coming up very close [the first Test is on December 26], so it is very important for us to get back to winning ways.

"Every match you play for your country, you want to win it. It is very important for us to take it to 2-1 and salvage some pride in the series.

"We came to India almost two-and-a-half months ago and we had a largely successful tour in terms of winning the Twenty20 and the one-dayers. It would be nice to cap off the tour with a victory."

The pitch for the third Test in Nagpur was rated "poor" by the International Cricket Council, while South Africa have struggled with the bat throughout the series - mustering only 771 runs across five innings with a top score of 214.

Yet Amla said: "It is a lovely challenge. It is very exciting facing good bowlers on a difficult pitch.

"We have been here many times but it has been very challenging this time. The scores have been very low and so the Tests have finished inside three days. But it has been an exciting three days.

"The thing with wickets like this is that you are never quite in. You can scratch around to make some runs but you will get a very good ball that will get you out.

"After this tour the guys will take a lot of experience out of it. That is the beauty of travelling overseas and playing in difficult conditions."