JOHANNESBURG, January 11 (ANA) – Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the third Test against England starting at the Wanderers on Thursday.
Steyn’s participation was ruled out on Monday by South African team management.
Steyn pulled up with a shoulder injury in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test against England in Durban, and missed the New Year’s Test in Cape Town. Despite the player himself being optimistic about his chances of playing in the third Test, he has failed to recover in time to be eligible for the team.
Steyn has been plagued by injury in the last few months, as he only played the first of four Test against hosts India in November. On that occasion, it was a groin injury which troubled the bowler.
Since then there has been speculation about his career coming to an end, as he continues to struggle to regain full fitness.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo, said the career of the bowler who had taken 406 wickets for South Africa in 82 Tests would not come to an end just yet.
“I don’t think it’s the end of Dale Steyn,” said Domingo.
“All players will experience some sort of niggles. He is a great athlete. He is as fit as they can come. We know he is a great bowler. He is the best bowler in the world. We haven’t had him since the first Test in India tour and that has been disappointing.” – African News Agency (ANA)
