Batsmen Nick Compton and Gary Ballance have been recalled to the squad while Ian Bell misses out on selection. 

Compton, who currently has nine Test caps last played for English a two and a half years ago.

Ballance has played 15 Tests since making his debut against Australia in last year and was last involved during the Ashes series earlier this year.

Injuries to pace bowlers Mark Wood and Steven Finn mean they are both unavailable for selection.

England arrives in South Africa on 11 December and will face the Proteas in a four-match Tests series as well as in five One-Day Internationals and two T20 Internationals.

The first Test will be played at Kingsmead between 26 and 30 December.

England Test Squad - Alastair Cook (Captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Nick Compton, Mark Footitt, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Samit Patel, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Chris Woakes.

Tour schedule

December 11: England arrive in SA
December 15-17: SA Invitation XI v England, Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
December 20-22: SA Invitation XI v England, Pietermaritzburg Oval
December 26-30: 1st Sunfoil Test match, Kingsmead, Durban
January 2-6: 2nd Sunfoil Test match, Newlands, Cape Town
January 14-18: 3rd Sunfoil Test match, Wanderers, Johannesburg
January 22-26: 4th Sunfoil Test match, SuperSport Park, Centurion

Morgan Piek / OFM News