Dale Steyn targets November return after shoulder injury recovery

Dale Steyn, who has been out of international cricket for close to a year after suffering a shoulder injury in the Perth Test against Australia, said he is targeting a return in November after making a successful recovery.

South Africa pacer Dale Steyn is hoping to make a comeback following a year out with a shoulder injury at next month’s South African domestic Twenty20 competition.

Dale Steyn suffered a shoulder injury during the Perth Test against Australia and he is eyeing a return to cricket during South Africa’s domestic T20 league. (Getty Images)

Following an extended spell of rehabilitation, Steyn said he has finally recovered from the shoulder problem he suffered while bowling against Australia during last November’s Test series.

“My arm is perfect, if anything its stronger than it was before because it’s (been) reinforced with a pin,” the 34-year-old told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s 100 percent now. I’ve just got to start reminding myself how to bowl at high speeds because I haven’t done it for a year.”

Steyn had fractured his shoulder during the Perth Test against Australia last year and it continued a string of injuries for South Africa’s premier pace bowler, who has taken 417 wickets in 85 Tests.

Steyn is particularly excited to work under Ottis Gibson, the former fast bowler who is now South Africa’s new head coach.

“It’s the first time in my career I have had a head coach who was a bowler,” he added.

South Africa have an action packed home summer in 2017/18. Following the end of the Bangladesh series, South Africa will play a four-day Pink Ball Test against Zimbabwe followed by three Tests, six ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals against Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team. The summer will conclude with four Tests against Australia starting in March.