adminHAMILTON. — South Africa are keeping their most precious object as safe as possible ahead of their World Cup opener tomorrow morning.
Pace spearhead Dale Steyn bowled largely off a short run-up in an extensive, four-hour training session yesterday, after bowling just seven overs in the first warm-up match and being rested for the second. Despite Steyn’s seeming lack of activity, team management have stubbed out suggestions he is injured and explained they are simply saving him for when they need him most.
“Everyone is fine. We rested Dale in the previous match to make sure he is 110% but everyone is fine,” Allan Donald, South Africa’s bowling coach, said.
So far, South Africa have escaped any major injury worries in the lead up to the tournament after the two players carrying the biggest concerns recovered in time for take-off.
Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy returned from ankle and knee problems in the home series against West Indies, with de Kock recovering a month ahead of schedule. But since South Africa’s arrival in New Zealand, niggles have cropped up.
AB de Villiers experienced tightness in his hip and sat out the first warm-up game against Sri Lanka on Monday while Farhaan Behardien was forced out of the second against New Zealand with back stiffness on Wednesday.
Those minor issues will fall far off the radar if Steyn comes under the spotlight, as he did earlier in the week.
A local paper received a tip-off from what turned out to be a prankster who told them Steyn was hurt in the nets at Hagley Oval and helped off the field.
There were no journalists at the ground at the time – the small South African contingent of reporters had yet to reach town and the reporters at the ground were concentrating on New Zealand’s training – but a dutiful scribe checked up on the situation and was emphatically told none of it was true. — Cricinfo.
Online Reporter