South African pacer Dale Steyn has joined with Hampshire County Cricket Club to feature in the new English county season. Through the county cricket, Steyn will try to regain his rhythm after the long injury which will help him to return to the international cricket.

After 14 months of injury, Steyn had returned in the international cricket in this early January during the first Test against India at Cape Town. However, his left heel got damaged on the day two of that Test match. He has already missed almost three months of professional cricket due to that injury.

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Steyn is now looking to make another international comeback soon. South Africa has the next assignment in July on their full tour in Sri Lanka. The 34-year-old will join with his new county team Hampshire in June where he will try to prove his fitness and rhythm.

Steyn has played 86 Tests, 116 ODIs and 42 T20Is where the right-arm pacer has claimed 419, 180 and 58 wickets respectively. While he is just three wickets away to become the most Test wicket-taker as a South African bowler. Also, he is currently the third most wicket-taker in international cricket as a South African bowler.

This is not the first time when Steyn will feature in the county cricket. Before the upcoming season, he had played for Essex in 2005 and for Warwickshire in 2007.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said about Dale Steyn, “Dale is one of the best bowlers in the world and is extremely motivated to get going after a frustrating period on the sidelines. It seems a great fit for both parties — we hope that we can help him get back to his best and we look forward to welcoming him to Hampshire.”

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After Morne Morkel’s recent retirement from international cricket, Steyn’s importance has raised for the national team.

Apart from Steyn, Hashim Amla will also play for Hampshire in this county season while former South African cricketers Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott have the Kolpak deal with this club.