Australia’s speed demons will go head-to-head with Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander

AUSTRALIA’S Test tour of South Africa looms as a battle of the quicks after star pace bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander return from long injury lay-offs.

Australian fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Pic Peter Wallis

THE Australian Test tour of South Africa looms as an all-out pace war after star quicks Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander were picked to make their returns for the home team in a one-off clash with Zimbabwe starting on Boxing Day.

And the Proteas’ batting line-up has also been bolstered with superstar AB de Villiers returning from a long Test lay-off as South Africa begin their preparations for the four-Test series against Australia next March.

The Australian fast bowling cartel of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Picture: Peter Wallis

De Villiers has not played a Test since captaining South Africa against England in January 2016, missing first because of an elbow injury before he took an extended absence from the five-day format and handed the captaincy to Faf du Plessis.

Steyn, who has 417 Test wickets, suffered a broken shoulder playing against Australia in Perth in November 2016 and has only recently returned to competitive cricket playing five Twenty20 matches in South Africa in the past month.

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Philander, Steyn’s new ball partner, returns after suffering back spasms during the Test series against England in July, and gives South Africa a four-pronged pace attack with Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas leading Test wicket taker in 2017.

Following the one-off, four-day, pink ball Test against Zimbabwe, South African play a series against India before Australia arrives for matches beginning with the first Test in Durban on March 1.

Dale Steyn broke his shoulder in Australia last year.

“It is a very exciting moment not just for South Africa but for world cricket to have Dale and AB, two icons of the game, back in the multi-day format,” said Cricket South Africa National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi.

“After Zimbabwe we have two very tough home Test Series coming up against India, the No. 1 ranked side in the world, and Australia, who have just regained the Ashes in their current series against England.

“AB and Dale bring loads of experience to the side apart from being two of the South African all-time greats.

AB de Villiers returns to the Test arena after a hiatus from red-ball cricket.

“It is also good to have Vernon back and it is very encouraging that our four premium fast bowlers — Steyn, Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel — are all back in the selection mix.”

Australia’s pace quarter of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have combined to take 45 of the 60 English wickets to fall through three winning Ashes Test so far.

And sidelined quick James Pattinson is targeting a return to the Test squad for the South African tour after his most recent back surgery.