South Africa offer Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn updates

Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series against England and fellow South Africa paceman Dale Steyn is rated as "50-50" to return in Johannesburg next week.

Philander missed the first two matches against Alastair Cook's side owing to an ankle injury sustained during a game of football two days before the start of the second Test against India in November.

Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee has now revealed that the 30-year-old will not be fit enough to play in the third Test at the Wanderers – which starts next Thursday – or the fourth and final match at Centurion.

Premier paceman Steyn missed the drawn second Test at Newlands with the shoulder problem he suffered in the defeat at Durban and it remains to be seen if he will play and part in the third Test.

Quick Kyle Abbott is set to be back in contention after a hamstring setback ruled him out of the second Test as AB de Villiers prepares to captain the Proteas for the final two Tests following Hashim Amla's resignation on Wednesday.

Dr Moosajee said: "Vernon Philander is a no-go for the Test series. He is still very much in his rehab phase.

"Kyle Abbott has made a full recovery from his hamstring strain and he will be ready for the Johannesburg Test.

"Dale Steyn is pretty much 50-50. He has got another appointment with a shoulder specialist in Cape Town tomorrow [Thursday] for another opinion and will be reassessed when we regroup in Johannesburg on Monday."

South Africa gave England a scare on day five at Newlands, reducing the tourists to 116-6 after lunch, but Jonny Bairstow (30 not out) and Moeen Ali (10no) dug in before bad light and rain brought play to an early end.