South Africa trio suffering minor injuries

As South Africa’s Dale Steyn, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir nurse injuries, team management says nothing to worry about

NEW DEHLI: South Africa’s Dale Steyn, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir are nursing injuries but the team management said that there was nothing to worry about.

Fast-bowler Steyn suffered a bruise on his right side in a warm-up session.

“During training, Dale bumped into Graeme Smith, so just a slight bruise on the right side,” said team spokeswoman Lerato Malekutu.

Tahir and Duminy did not take part in the practice session at all. “Tahir has a respiratory tract infection and Duminy has got a lower back stiffness after his batting against West Indies,” he said.

South Africa take on the Netherlands in Mohali on Thursday.

Hussey omission “staggers” Waugh

Mike Hussey’s omission from Australia’s World Cup squad was “staggering” and team selectors should have given him a chance to recover from injury, according to former Australia captain Steve Waugh.

The 35-year-old was initially selected despite rupturing a hamstring last month, but was later replaced by Callum Ferguson.

“His experience is invaluable, particularly on the subcontinent pitches. I was staggered he wasn’t picked,” said Waugh. Waugh alos said he felt that he should have been given the same chance as Andrew Symonds had been in 2007, when the all-rounder missed the early part of the tournament through injury but later came into the side to help the team clinch the championship.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2011.