Finn added to South Africa tour party

Steven Finn has been given the all-clear to join England's Test tour of South Africa after proving his fitness in a pair of hostile displays for England Lions in the UAE.

Finn, who was ruled out of England's Test series against Pakistan in October with a bone-stress injury in his left foot, bowled with pace and incision during two Twenty20 fixtures in Dubai over the weekend, and will link up with the Test team in Potchefstroom on Monday.

The news is a significant boost to England's hopes of challenging South Africa, the No.1-ranked Test nation, in their own conditions. Finn was initially left out of the 16-man tour party, with England's selectors deciding they did not want to risk travelling with any players who were unlikely to be fit in time for the first Test.

Finn is still unlikely to be ready to play at Durban on Boxing Day, where Surrey's new signing, Mark Footitt, is expected to make his debut alongside the new-ball pairing of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, with Ben Stokes, the allrounder, on course to prove his own fitness after suffering a shoulder injury in Sharjah last month.

However, Finn's sharpness was not in doubt during his comeback performances against Pakistan A this weekend, albeit in four-over performances. He picked up 3 for 22 in the opening match and added a further wicket yesterday, and believes he will be ready to challenge for a Test recall at Cape Town in the New Year.

"I've been really pleased with the way things have gone with the Lions," Finn said. "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."

Finn's injury had been an especially untimely setback following his comeback to the Test team during the Ashes last summer. He was recalled for the third Test at Edgbaston, having ironed out the problems in his bowling action that had caused him to be branded "unselectable" during the whitewash tour of Australia in 2013-14, and starred with eight wickets in a series-turning eight-wicket victory, including 6 for 47 in the first innings.

"It's fantastic news," said Jonny Bairstow, the England wicketkeeper who looks set to retain his place for the Durban Test after replacing Jos Buttler during the Pakistan series. "Finny coming back after what was a really disappointing injury for him after bowling a fantastic spell in Sharjah and really hitting his straps over there.

"Everyone is delighted to see Finny back to fitness. He's been bowling well over in the UAE from what we've heard. Having him joining the camp tonight is a massive boost for all of us; he's a really popular guy.

"The skills that he brings and the difference of bowling he brings is unprecedented. He's 6ft 7in and coming from that height there's going to be a lot of pace and bounce which is another asset to us."

The first match of England's tour starts on Tuesday in Potchefstroom, a three-day fixture against a South Africa Invitational XI.