Steyn ruled out of final Test
Dale Steyn will miss the final Test against England after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.
CENTURION (AFP) - South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the fourth and final Test against England starting in Centurion on Friday.
Steyn failed to recover from a shoulder injury which he suffered during the first Test.
Opening batsman Stiaan van Zyl was released to play for his Cape Cobras franchise, making it virtually certain that specialist opener Stephen Cook would win his first Test cap on Friday.
South Africa have already lost the series to Alastair Cook’s tourists, with their frontline fast bowler missing both the drawn second Test in Cape Town and England’s victory in Johannesburg which gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead.
South Africa confirmed on Tuesday that Steyn will not be fit in time for the final match of four, starting at Centurion on Friday.
In a statement, Cricket South Africa said: “Dale Steyn has not recovered from a shoulder injury and will not be available for selection for the last Test, and all efforts will be made to have him ready for the one-day international series starting at the end of the month.”
Steyn’s unavailability is no surprise but the hosts are hoping wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will be fit for the series finale. De Kock had to miss the Johannesburg Test with a knee injury, reportedly suffered while out walking his dog on the eve of the match – resulting in a last-minute call-up for Dane Vilas.
The latter was not named in South Africa’s initial 17-man squad for Centurion, who do include the uncapped 33-year-old batsman Stephen Cook. Cook appears set for a belated international debut after South Africa released the out-of-form opener Stiaan van Zyl to play for Cape Cobras.
In Steyn’s absence at the Wanderers, the seamer Kagiso Rabada took his maiden five-wicket Test haul. At Centurion the 20-year-old is set to be handed his sixth Test cap.
Of his side’s predicament, Rabada said: “The good times will come, and we will look back at the tough times and think ‘look where we were and look where we are now. It happens to everyone – unfortunately it is happening to us right now, but we have to stick together as a team and stay positive. We are not going to throw in the towel – it’s unlike us to do that.”
