The veteran South African pacer Dale Steyn has been recalled in the 15-man Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour on Monday (June 11). His last international game came in the first Test against India at Newlands at the start of the year, which he was unable to complete when he limped out of the second innings with a heel injury.
However, Steyn’s rustiness showed as he took 1 for 80 in a one-day match against Somerset, but that was enough for the selectors to feel comfortable about picking Steyn as one of four pacers in the squad that plays a two-Test series in Sri Lanka on July 12. As the chief selector, Linda Zondi said, “It is a very welcome news to have Dale back in our pack of world-class seamers, particularly in view of the retirement of Morne Morkel. Kagiso Rabada has also made a complete recovery from the injury concerns he had at the end of the Australia Test series.”
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He further added, “A key factor in our selection process was to cover all our bases and all possible conditions that we may encounter in Sri Lanka. The two additional spinners to back up Keshav Maharaj have both had excellent records in recent times in our domestic cricket. Von Berg also gives us additional batting strength in the lower order.”
Heinrich Klaasen has also been included in the squad not only as a back-up to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, but will also be considered as a specialist batsman.
Dale Steyn is just 14 Tests shy of reaching the 100-Test mark, but South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn is up for the challenge. He also wants to achieve the milestone of 500 Test wickets before he finally decides to retire. Talking to ESPNcricinfo, he said, “Playing international cricket at the highest level is where everybody wants to play. I have been blessed to have played for many years whether that be for South Africa or in the IPL.”
He also added, “I want to achieve certain things in my career. A hundred Test matches would be amazing and 500 wickets would be incredible. At my age – I’m 35 [he is actually not 35 until the end of this month] – I want to play a lot of cricket. I think I can push it until I’m 38, maybe even 39, and start drifting this way [to county cricket] around that age.”
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Although the retirement of veterans like AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel has created a big void in the national team, Steyn is keen to get back stronger and play in the World Cup next year in England. He said, “If I’m going to be spending the majority of the time on the sidelines, then you might have to weigh-up that option. He’s assured me that a fit Dale Steyn is in the XI and I’m taking his word on that. Hopefully, I can get the nod and can go on to get past Polly’s record – that’s been in the back of my mind for two-and-a-half years now – and achieve, some of the personal goals I want to achieve, too.”
Steyn elaborated, “It would be amazing to play in the World Cup. But you have to play white-ball cricket to be good at white-ball cricket. Hopefully, I can get some white-ball games this year leading into December and put my hand up for the spot in that World Cup team next year. So I’ll play as long as my name is up there to represent South Africa.”
South Africa Test squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungisani Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Shaun von Berg.
