Faf du Plessis hopeful of Dale Steyn's return to cricket

Under-fire South African captain Faf du Plessis hopes that pace spearhead Dale Steyn will be back in the team ahead of the Bangladesh series. The fast bowler has been off from cricket since his shoulder injury during the Australia series last year. Apart from Steyn, Vernon Philander is also down with an injury, and therefore South Africa is in a restless situation.

The skipper said that having Steyn in England could have changed the fortune of the series. South Africa lost in all three formats to England and apart from that, their Champions Trophy exit rubbed more salt into their wound. Steyn was supposed to be a part of South Africa A’s tour to the UK earlier this year. Steyn, however, is now eyeing the two-match Test series against Bangladesh for a comeback.

Irreplaceable Steyn

Speaking to SA cricket magazine, du Plessis added, “It’s all about his injury. To come back and bowl 145-150kmph will make it a difficult task to play Test cricket again. But I’m hoping he does come back because in England having his experience would have been as valuable as having Morne (Morkel) and Vern there. You don’t replace those guys. I’m hoping he’ll make a return for us, especially in the Test team, but he’s got a lot of work to do to get back.” But Steyn is enjoying his No. 8 position in the ICC Test bowlers rankings despite being away from the format for nine months

Injury update

During the CSA annual awards, Steyn shared his injury status and explained why he thought about the A tour, “My recovery is going well but it is taking a little longer than I expected it to. Obviously, one of the reasons for me playing with the A side was so that I could get some match fitness before the Tests. So, before that Bangladesh series, I will need to play a bit.”