Dale Steyn, who was ruled out of the Test series against Australia, has undergone a successful shoulder surgery for the injury which he suffered during the first Test match against Australia at Perth. However, the healing process will take time and it will take Steyn six months before he comes back to the playing field.
“Dale had a successful surgery on Thursday where the fracture in the right shoulder blade was fixated with the placement of a screw,” Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, confirmed on Sunday (November 12).
Steyn injured his right arm shoulder while he was bowling at Perth on the second day of the first Test. The Australian team was marching forward strongly when Steyn provided the first breakthrough to the team in form of David Warner. Soon after this, the old pain and issue relapsed and Steyn found himself in trouble once again. He left the field immediately before it was confirmed that he’ll be out for six months.
“It is crucial to give the injury enough time to heal and to make sure that he is completely pain-free before he starts bowling again,” Moosajee added. “He will begin his rehabilitation program once the satisfactory bony healing has taken place; this is excepted to be in a few weeks.”
“We are positive that he will make a successful return to international cricket. He will be provided with the best possible support and guidance led by our physiotherapist, Brandon Jackson, and Cricket South Africas medical committee, which will give him the best opportunity to make a successful return to full fitness,” Moosajee concluded.
Steyn first injured his shoulder during the boxing day Test against England before leaving the series midway. Though he made a quick return to international cricket but he has lost his Midas touch and that flavour of superiority which separated him from other bowlers.
Good thing for South Africa is despite in his absence, other bowlers took charge and led the team to a great win over Australia to start the series on a positive note. They continued their good performance in the second Test as well by bundling out home team for a mere 85.