Hashim Amla is one of six Proteas players  released to play in the Sunfoil Series ahead of South Africa’s first Test against England.

The first round of Sunfoil Series matches will take place from 17-20 December.

Amla, JP Duminy, Stiaan van Zyl, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar and Dane Piedt will play in the four-day competition, but bowlers like Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada will be rested in the lead up to the first Test on 26 December.

Rilee Rossouw will play for South Africa A against England from 20-22 December in Pietermaritzburg.

‘A lot of the senior players were in India for the full duration of the 72-day tour and most of them played in every match, it is vital for them to get some physical and mental rest ahead of the lengthy series against England,’ said Proteas team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee.

‘All of the fast bowlers in the Test squad announced today will not take part in any Sunfoil Series matches prior to the series. The fast bowlers feature across all three formats so it is important for us to manage their workloads coming out of a long tour and heading straight into another one.

‘Dale Steyn will have a fitness Test onDecember 17 to ascertain his availability for the Boxing Day Test match but we are quite confident that he will be fit for that Test match.’

Imran Tahir and Dean Elgar will be available for selection for their respective franchises in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge Final between the Titans and the Dolphins at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday.

The Test squad will assemble in Durban on Tuesday, December 22.