Sports News

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is confident Dale Steyn will be fit to resume his new-ball duties in the second Test at Durban. The fast bowler came through 10 overs on Wednesday without any reaction and the hosts hope to make a final decision on Christmas Day.

Steyn was ruled out shortly before the toss at Centurion after pulling up stiff on the morning of the game, which allowed Friedel de Wet to make his debut and the 29-year-old produced a stunning new-ball burst on the final afternoon to almost snatch victory. However, despite an impressive first appearance, de Wet would be the man to miss out if Steyn makes his return.

"Dale has come on nicely," Arthur said. "We will still wait and see on that department. He bowled 10 overs at virtually full pace yesterday and there's been no comeback so I'm pretty sure he'll be fit to take his place. We certainly don't want to be going in as we were at Centurion where everything seems fine then he was tight on the morning of the game. We'd certainly like to take the call on Dale tomorrow."

De Wet's performance has bolstered South Africa's quick-bowling ranks and prompted speculation over the future of Makhaya Ntini who managed just two wickets in his 100th Test. Arthur, though, added his complete backing of Ntini to that of Graeme Smith on Wednesday, but is delighted that the first-choice quicks are being put under pressure by the emergence of new names.

"Ntini has taken some flak and I'm not 100% sure why," Arthur said. "I thought he did a fairly decent job for us. He performed a role, but I guess there was always going to be the speculation once Friedel rocked up and nearly bowled us to victory. The whole bowling unit will feel it now, not just Makhaya.

"Friedel was fantastic and it puts another guy in the queue. It's another guy we have given a match to and he has shown what he can do. He puts a lot of pressure on the other bowlers to perform. But we'll probably go back to our tried and tested for what is a really important Test.