Kabir handed England Test start

Worcestershire seamer Kabir Ali was today handed his England Test debut against South Africa at Headingley.

Worcestershire seamer Kabir Ali was today handed his England Test debut against South Africa at Headingley.

Kabir was named in a starting eleven without any specialist spinner, with the selectors overlooking Ashley Giles for Yorkshire's traditionally seamer-friendly surface.

Kabir (22) earned his place in the starting line-up alongside Surrey seamer Martin Bicknell, recalled to Test duty 10 years after his previous two appearances against Australia.

Durham paceman Steve Harmison was left out after failing to overcome the calf trouble sustained during the third Test victory at Trent Bridge earlier this week.

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South Africa followed England's lead and also named an all-seam line-up and gave young fast bowler Monde Zondeki his Test debut as a replacement for all-rounder Shaun Pollock, who has returned home to Durban for the birth of his first child.

Seamer Dewald Pretorius, overlooked for the Nottingham Test, also returned having claimed seven wickets for Durham at Headingley against Yorkshire earlier this season while spinner Paul Adams missed out.

Experienced batsman Gary Kirsten also came back having been sidelined at Trent Bridge with an arm injury and he replaced Boeta Dippenaar in the middle order.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith decided to bat first after winning the toss.