Shaun Pollock positive about Dale Steyn surpassing South Africa bowling record

Dale Steyn suffered a groin injury in Mohali

Former South African cricketer Shaun Pollock thinks fast bowler Dale Steyn will go past his national Test record of 421 wickets if he can stay fit for the four matches in the upcoming series against England. Steyn suffered a groin injury during the first Test in Mohali against India, forcing him to miss the final two days. The injury ruled him out for the entire series.

Pollock who retired from Test cricket in 2008, took 421 wickets in 108 Test matches in his career, including 16 five wicket hauls.

Steyn is currently on 402 wickets in 81 Test matches. If he plays in all four games against the Three Lions he should be close to beat Pollock’s record.

In an interview the 42 year old said "There's no way I'm going to hang on to that record. He probably averages four, maybe five wickets a Test match. Work it out, if he plays all four Tests he should be close. For his sake I would love him to do it on South African soil, it would be special to him."

A former right arm seamer, Pollock also said that the South African team management might decide to go with Kyle Abbott as the third pacer for the first two Tests against England, ahead of Kagiso Rabada, because of his performances in the recent Tests in Delhi against India.

The former all rounder also added "Initially I think they'll go with Kyle Abbott because he was superb when he got his chance in Delhi. But Rabada is a real find and he will go from strength to strength. He has been awesome in the one-day arena, and when he gets back to our pitches in South Africa he could be a real handful."

Kyle Abbott picked up a total of 6 wickets in the last test match against India in Delhi. In his short career the 28 year old took 19 wickets in 5 Test matches. In 63 first class matches he took 238 wickets with a bowling average of 21.20.

Shaun Pollock, who is considered to be one of the best bowling all rounders of all time played 303 ODIs for the Proteas and took 393 wickets along with scoring 3519 runs with a batting average of 26.45.