Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the third npower Test against England at Edgbaston, starting on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old South Africa paceman has suffered a fracture to the base of his left thumb, after fielding a ball that was driven back to him off his own bowling during the second test at Headingley on Monday, and is due to be in a plaster cast for between two and three weeks.

X-rays revealed the injury yesterday, but the plan was always to rest him for the current three-day tour match with Bangladesh A at Worcester.

Mohammed Moosajee, the South Africa team manager, said: "His thumb will be in a cast for between two and three weeks and we have given ourselves a window to reassess the injury in two weeks time."

"If it doesn't heal in time he may (miss the fourth test at The Oval starting August 7) but we are giving ourselves a window for him to be re-assessed in two weeks. The risk for Edgbaston was that if he played he might have done further damage and then needed surgery."

Andre Nel or Monde Zondeki are likely to replace Steyn, who took seven wickets at Headingley

"Missing a player of Dale's calibre is a huge blow," Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, said, "but I feel we have such good depth with the likes of Andre Nel and Monde.

"Nel is probably next in the queue. That was why I was strong on wanting good reserve strength with experienced players who know about the intensity of test cricket."

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