WORCESTERSHIRE'S Moeen Ali will be one of two frontline spinners for England's upcoming Test tour to South Africa.

The 28-year-old all-rounder will be joined in the spin stakes by Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel for the four-Test series.

Adil Rashid is missing from the 16-man squad with England deciding the conditions in South Africa mean the chances of playing two spinners are "extremely remote".

England have dropped veteran Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell, 33, after a series of below-par displays with Middlesex's Nick Compton and Yorkshire's Gary Ballance earning recalls.

Former Worcestershire loan batsman Alex Hales is in the squad along with ex-County academy player James Taylor.

National selector James Whitaker said: "Adil showed plenty of promise in the UAE but, with the conditions in South Africa making the likelihood of playing two spinners extremely remote, he misses out.

"We feel this provides an excellent opportunity for him to spend some time developing his white-ball skills in the lead-up to the ICC World T20 in March and it is likely Adil will travel to Australia to play for a Big Bash franchise. "

England arrive in South Africa on December 11 and play two three-day warm-up matches before the first Test begins in Durban on Boxing Day.

The second Test is in Cape Town from January 2 with the final two matches being held in Johannesburg (January 14-18) and Centurion (January 22-26).

Whitaker added: "Playing the number one-ranked Test side in the world in their home conditions will be a really exciting challenge for this squad and one I'm sure these players will relish."