South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has signed up with Melbourne Stars for the upcoming Big Bash League later this year. He will play the first six games for Stars while for the next games it will depend on his selection for his country. Steyn retired from Test cricket in August but he is available for the limited-overs. However, he was not picked for the T20I series in India, he is expected to be picked for their home series against England in February.
“It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” Dale Steyn was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “When you’re sitting back here in South Africa and you’re watching it, it’s such a well-run operation in Australia. It’s brilliant. I think Cricket South Africa could learn a couple of things from the Big Bash.”
Welcome to our Stars family @DaleSteyn62 💚 #TeamGreen pic.twitter.com/4A9vuaGH9Y
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) October 8, 2019
Steyn shared his priority is to play for the national team.
“I don’t think we can rule out that,” said Steyn. “Obviously the first prize is always to play for your country. Representing South Africa is the only thing I’ve ever done for my whole career so far. So to get back into that team is prize number one.”
“But if that doesn’t happen, I still want to be playing cricket. I don’t want to be sitting in South Africa not doing anything. So if there’s a window and a chance that I could go back over and play for the Stars, that can be open to discussion. It certainly can happen. But we’ve got to wait for the Proteas selection decision, and we can take it from there,” he added.
The pacer, who played a couple of games in the IPL this year, expected to play in the T20s in Australia.
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“They’re (normally) pretty tight on not allowing players to go and play in the Big Bash,” Steyn said. “But knowing that I’m not available for the Tests, wanting to keep me fit, and also having one eye on the Twenty20 World Cup at the backend of next year, they probably felt like it was a good call. Which is great because it keeps me in the running for that World Cup.”
“Winning a World Cup medal with your country would be a big highlight. If I can go over to Australia and get some more experience in those conditions. That could be beneficial,” he concluded.
Steyn becomes the second South African star to sign up for BBL after AB de Villiers did with Brisbane Heat recently.
