Admitting that South Africa would struggle in ICC World Cup 2019 without Dale Steyn, captain Faf du Plessis blamed the IPL for the fast bowler’s injury ahead of the all-important South Africa vs India World Cup match at Southampton on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old fast bowler had been battling to be fit in time for Wednesday’s crucial clash against fancied India in Southampton after two defeats in two matches for South Africa. But the seamer has been forced to admit defeat, leaving head coach Ottis Gibson’s side short of firepower. Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks has been named as Steyn’s replacement. (Full Coverage of ICC World Cup 2019)
Steyn apparently suffered his second shoulder injury, for which the South African captain blamed the IPL.
“Unfortunately, it happened there in the IPL in those two games that he played there. If he didn’t get picked up to go to the IPL, who knows where Dale would have been right now,” du Plessis said.
Steyn had played two games in the IPL in for Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and bowled eight overs in all before he was ruled out of the T20 league with a right shoulder injury that has troubled him for long now.
{{/usCountry}}Steyn had played two games in the IPL in for Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and bowled eight overs in all before he was ruled out of the T20 league with a right shoulder injury that has troubled him for long now.
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“Steyn has suffered a second shoulder injury which has not responded to treatment and has ruled him out of bowling for the foreseeable future,” Cricket South Africa said in a statement.
But Du Plessis said despite their injury problems and their poor start to the tournament, South Africa were aiming to reach the last four of the round-robin event, in which all 10 teams play each other.
“Six games is the target, and there’s seven games left,” the skipper told reporters during his pre-match press conference at the Ageas Bowl.
“It would be great if we could start that tomorrow. There’s no easy games any more in the World Cup.... Whether it’s winning or losing, the main thing is getting to the semi-finals.”
South Africa, who have never won the World Cup, have endured a wretched start to the tournament, losing to hosts England by 104 runs then slipping to a 21-run loss to Bangladesh on Sunday.
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Top-order batsman Hashim Amla returns for the India game after missing the second match following a hit on the head during the tournament opener against England.
- Stay positive -
Du Plessis said he it was important to stay “strong and positive” despite the challenge of working with limited resources.
“Naturally, guys will have a little bit of confidence that’s been chucked away and that is normal, that is part of being human,” he said.
Hendricks will arrive on Wednesday but will not be available to face India.
Du Plessis said he hoped Steyn’s international career was not at an end.
“It’s been a tough two-and-half years for him, and he would need support right now,” he said. “The team and management will put things in place to look after him. He needs love at the moment, he tried really hard to get fit for this campaign.”
Du Plessis admitted South Africa’s injury problems had forced him to draw up a new plan.
“I think we’ll really have to look at that now, there’s only 14 players to pick from now. There’s not a lot of options for the bowling attack,” he said.
“You have to decide whether you go with all your all-rounders in your team, bat deep and try to get a big score.”
India skipper Virat Kohli also sympathised with Steyn and wished his Indian Premier League teammate, for Royal Challengers Bangalore, a “speedy recovery”.
(With agency inputs)