Dale Steyn is not giving up his hope for playing the crucial third match of this ongoing series against India, which will be started from this Wednesday at the VCA stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. His fellow speed star Morne Morkel revealed to the reporter that Steyn bowled for short times in the nets. Though there is no confirmation about his playing.
Dale Steyn is suffering a groin injury from the 1st match of this test series, where he didn’t bowl in the 2nd innings. He had already ruled out for the 2nd test due to his injury. Currently Steyn is fighting hard with his fitness to comeback in this series. South Africa already brought Marchant de Lange in India as Steyn’s back-up.
“Dale bowled this morning. It was a pleasing thing for us to see. Obviously groin is a tricky sort of injury. So I think we will keep monitoring and give him 9 am on Wednesday to decide,” Morkel told reporters today.
Morkel elaborated about Steyn’s selection. He said “I think it will be a medical call. You don’t want to select a bowler who could break down and upset the combinations. It’s a bit of a tough one, but I know medical staff will take the right call”.
Steyn had destroyed the Indian batting line-up at this venue five years ago (2010). He had picked up 10 wickets in that match, while the Proteas beat India by an innings.
Morkel also spoke out about Steyn’s mentality, “Dale is dying to get out there, do his things. Fingers crossed.”
“He can be quite tricky to face. He’s been busy with one-day competitions at home. Of late he’s not played much of four day cricket, (but) he knows what to do,”– Morkel said about Steyn’s new back up.
Morkel also said that his team is looking forward about this important test match. He said that his team is very keen to comeback in this series through winning of the third test of this series.
India is currently leading in this series with 1-0 of the four-match Test series. India made a victoy in the first test at Mohali, while The second match at Bangaluru was washed out for the last four days.