Steyn returns to South Africa Test squad
Dale Steyn has been named in South Africa’s squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka. The Proteas will take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, which will be followed by a five-ODI series and a one-off T20I against the islanders.
Steyn has hardly been able to play for the national team in the past two years due to injuries. Since November 2016, the pacer managed to play only one Test against India earlier this year and got injured in that very match. He was ruled out for the remainder of the three-match series against India.
The 34-year-old had targeted his county stint with Hampshire as a route to his comeback in international cricket. He played a one-day game against Somerset on June 6 and went on to prove his fitness by bowling 26 overs in the first innings of Hampshire's ongoing county match against Surrey.
With 419 wickets in 86 Tests, Steyn is just two wickets shy of Shaun Pollock’s career tally of 421. The upcoming series will be great opportunity for the seamer to become the highest Test wicket-taker for South Africa.
Kagiso Rabada, who sustained a back injury during South Africa’s fourth Test against Australia in April, has also made it to the 15-member squad.
Steyn and Rabada will join Lungisani Ngidi and Vernon Philander in the pace attack of the Proteas.
On the other hand, Titan leg-spinner Shaun von Berg has earned his maiden national call-up ahead of the upcoming series. Heinrich Klaasen, could also make his Test debut for the South African side as he has been included in the squad.
National selector Linda Zondi said: “It is 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.”
“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 is the other uncapped player although he has been part of our squad for some time. He provides wicketkeeping cover for Quinton de Kock and is also a contender for a specialist batting position,” he added.
The Test series is scheduled to start from July 12. This will South Africa's first series after the retirement of two of their most experienced players, Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers.
South Africa Test squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Shaun von Berg.
