South Africa’s joy at achieving a consolation victory against England in the fourth Test have been dampened by the news that their premier fast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match ODI series against the visitors, ESPNCricinfo reports.
The 32-year-old has been struggling with injury woes ever since the opening Test at Mohali against India in November last year. He suffered a groin injury during the match that forced him to sit out the last two days of the Test as well as the remaining three Tests in the series. The scenes were not pretty back home either as Steyn, who was back in the side for the opening Test against England, got injured yet again, this time due to shoulder trouble.
Steyn’s injury was initially suspected to be minor shoulder spasm but he went on to miss the rest of the series as he struggled to knock off the injury. Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa's team manager, revealed that the exact reason for the longer recovery time was yet to be ascertained.
With the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 right around the corner, he said that Steyn would be given ample to make a full recovery.
"All initial scans were clear but when symptoms did not improve, we discovered a reaction in the bone itself," Moosajee said. 'This is very rare in fast bowlers as it is usually caused by trauma. We are treating it conservatively because he is a fast bowler and we know we have the World T20 coming up."
Abbott to miss 1st ODI; Philander still three weeks away from competitive cricket
The Proteas injury concerns do not end with Steyn though. Fellow fast bowlers Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander have also had a woeful time with injuries off late and unfortunately for the duo, there doesn’t seem to be any letting up.
Abbott who suffered a hamstring injury during the Centurion Test will miss the first ODI against England while Philander who was expected to recover by mid-January after suffering ankle ligaments injury during South Africa’s tour of India is still "two to three weeks away from competitive cricket.”
Taking stock of the injury situation regarding his fast bowlers, South Africa coach Russell Domingo said that the experienced Morne Morkel and the youngster Kagiso Rabada, who took 13 wickets in the fourth Test against England, will be rested at some point during the series to prevent further injuries.
"They definitely won't play all five games," Russell Domingo, South Africa's coach, said. "We will look to bring one or two new fast bowlers in."
Wayne Parnell and Hardus Viljoen are likely to be added to the ODI squad to join Chris Morris as back-ups to Morkel and Rabada.
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