Steyn has not been at his best physically and it has shown in his recent performances. PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE: South Africa’s premier fast-bowler Dale Steyn missed training on Wednesday due to flu, but is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup match against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“He has a bout of sinusitis but will be back in training tomorrow,” said Lerato Malekutu, the team’s manager.
Even though Steyn looks certain to take to the field in Sunday’s key Pool B match against the defending champions, his presence has been underwhelming of late.
The paceman bowled just seven overs in South Africa’s first warm-up match against Sri Lanka and was rested for the second warm-up against hosts New Zealand.
Steyn was said to be suffering from a sore throat and blocked nose during their World Cup opener against Zimbabwe, where he returned with unflattering figures of 1-64 from nine overs against the lowly-ranked opponents.
Steyn, one of the game’s most devastating fast bowlers with 152 wickets from 97 one-dayers, will be needed in prime form if South Africa are to win their maiden World Cup title.
Meanwhile, the squad’s two consultants, former South African opening batsman Gary Kirsten and Australian Michael Hussey, joined the players in training at the St Kilda club ground.
Kirsten, who was India’s coach when MS Dhoni’s men won the 2011 World Cup, is a part-time adviser with his home team. Meanwhile, Hussey was specifically taken on board for the current tournament.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2015.
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