‘Think England will score more than India in Tests’
MUMBAI: South Africa pacer Dale Steyn’s belief that England will do better than India in the upcoming Test series. Here to promote the GoPro camera, Steyn spoke on various topics. Excerpts.
Apart from Virat Kohli, can you name a few others you expect to make an impact in the IndiaEngland series?
There is always going to be focus on Virat, he is a great player; doesn’t matter what series he is playing. KL Rahul score a hundred in the T20, (Cheteshwar) Pujara is a rock, he can bat for long periods of time, and Shikhar (Dhawan)… if they can get some momentum… Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah are injured, so it is going to be interesting. That is going to be the tipping point. England’s bowling will just tip (over) India’s. It will be a high-scoring series. But I think England are going to score a bit more than India.
How did you take IPL snub?
If I was a coach I would probably would not have bought me either. Last year (IPL 2017) I had a broken shoulder and made myself unavailable. This year, I put my name in the auction but just before it I landed in a foot-hole and messed up my foot. One thing about IPL is that you are buying players for a lot of money; I don’t want to buy a product that does not work — if you get what I am saying. I don’t blame anyone. It was not an issue because there are always other options.
How do you look back at the Australia series?
Great for TV! I think if you have a series without some mettle about it, it will be very boring to watch. This series had a lot. Sandpaper, Nathan Lyon’s ball-drop, hundreds, fifers, KG (Kagiso Rabada) getting into trouble, off-field stuff, David Warner exploding, bans — a little bit too much, like soap opera-ish but cool.
Where do you stand with Michael Clarke today?
Doesn’t matter. It is done. That was long time ago. No issues at all. 100 per cent.