South Africa's Dale Steyn to make call on shoulder injury

Dale Steyn could yet bowl again for South Africa in the first Test with England, despite twice failing to complete an over on day three due to a shoulder injury.

The top-ranked bowler in Test cricket left the field two balls into the seventh over of England's second innings at Kingsmead on Monday due to a muscle spasm.

Steyn returned to the field to resume his spell, but again pulled up in pain and was unable to return to the attack for a third time.

Proteas team doctor and manager Mohammed Moosajee revealed that the paceman, who was sidelined for much of his side's recent Test series in India due to a groin injury, will be left to decide whether he bowls on day four after a scan revealed he had not suffered serious damage.

"Dale first experienced discomfort in his right shoulder after day one, which was probably because of a long lay-off and great deal of bowling load on the first day," Moosajee said.

"He woke up sore on the second day but got through first innings but then in second innings, the pain increasingly troublesome so he had to leave the field.

"The scan is inconclusive in that it showed no tears to muscles or ligaments so we are treating it as shoulder stiffness. If he gets through warm-ups, he will be allowed to bowl tomorrow and then we will take a call on his availability for the Cape Town Test after this match."

England took charge on day three in Durban, closing on 172-3 to by 261 after bowling South Africa out for 214 - with Dean Elgar making an unbeaten 118.

Joe Root was 60 not out at stumps after being dropped by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers when he had just six runs to his name, while Nick Compton was twice reprieved on his way to 49.