Graeme Swann was the star of England’s attack, taking six for 55, as the warm-up match against a South Africa Invitational XI in East London ended in a draw.

The first Test against South Africa starts next Wednesday in Centurion and the Proteas are 6/5 favourites to make home advantage count, with the draw priced at 8/5 and England available at 14/5.

The first of two warm-up matches had been rain interrupted but England declared on 329 for 8, with Alastair Cook top-scoring with 81 and Ian Bell (48) and Matt Prior (44) spending some useful time out in the middle before retiring.

Graeme Swann also had time to club a quick-fire 39 not out but it was with the ball in hand that the England offspinner shone by taking six wickets, including a spell of three wickets in four balls.

In the end, the home side ended on 167 for seven with Graham Onions the only other wicket-taker, and Stuart Broad struggling to find his line.

Swann himself though is happy to have found his rhythm so quickly after being out of action with a side strain for a couple of weeks.

“As spinners go if you’ve been bowling and feel a semblance of rhythm then you are fairly happy with life,” he said.

“There are different lines and the big difference is you try not to go for many runs in one-day cricket. It’s been coming out of my hand fairly nicely all tour and I don’t find it that big a deal at the minute.”

England are expected to welcome back James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom to the attack for the final warm-up match against South Africa Airways XI, starting on Friday.

The Proteas, recently deposed as the number one ranked side in the world, are 8/13 favourites to go on and win the four-match series, with England priced at 11/4 and the draw at 7/2.