Huge blow for South Africa as Steyn set to miss first two WC games
A shoulder problem has ruled Dale Steyn out of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup opener against England at The Oval on Thursday.
Head coach Ottis Gibson will be without the veteran paceman to begin the campaign, with Steyn not yet at 100% fully fit after suffering a problem which saw him cut short his time in the IPL.
As per Sport24, Steyn played a ‘limited role at Proteas training’ on Tuesday, bowling just a few balls from a shorter run-up before spending time batting.
Steyn is also reportedly likely to miss Sunday’s game against Bangladesh at The Oval too, with Gibson now looking ahead to the June 5 fixture against India as his first chance to deploy Steyn.
In the 35-year-old’s absence South Africa are apparently likely to go with either Dwaine Pretorius or Chris Morris to bolster their pace bowling options.
Morris is considered ‘the most like-for-like replacement’ as a bowler, plus he can provide some destructive late cameos with the bat that increases the depth of their order.
SEE ALSO:
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Full squad lists
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Fixtures, results and standings
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: All you need to know
Latest
-
NewsAlice Capsey’s West Indies tour ended by broken collar bone
The all-rounder suffered the injury while fielding during England’s win in the opening ODI on Sunday.
-
NewsEngland all-rounder Alice Capsey returns home after breaking collarbone
Capsey made 17 opening the batting in Sunday’s first ODI in Antigua.
-
NewsBen Stokes hails ‘mind-blowing’ achievement from England in Pakistan
England took five wickets in the final session to secure victory.
-
NewsJames Anderson: Test win over Pakistan one of the best I’ve been involved in
England have rarely had to work harder to claim a result than over the past five days.
-
News‘A masterclass’ – Former England captains hail Ben Stokes after Pakistan opener
Stokes once again lived up to his ultra-aggressive ideals as he found a way to force an unlikely result.
-
NewsAggressive England clinch thrilling first-Test win over Pakistan
Ben Stokes’ bold captaincy paid off as the tourists narrowly beat the setting sun in Rawalpindi.
-
NewsEngland toil away with little reward as Pakistan edge closer to Test victory
Pakistan required just 86 more runs to win with five wickets remaining going into the final session.
-
NewsPakistan turn up pressure on final morning of first England Test
Although they reached the break at 169 for three in their second innings, the hosts’ single loss was the key wicket of Imam-ul-Haq.
-
NewsLiam Livingstone to miss rest of Pakistan tour with knee injury
Livingstone will return to the UK on Tuesday.
-
NewsEngland roar to 142-run win in first ODI of white-ball tour of the Caribbean
Nat Sciver marked her return to cricket by scoring 90 while Danni Wyatt celebrated her 100th ODI cap with 68.