Will be up and running in six weeks, promises Dale Steyn
CAPE TOWN: Unruffled by yet another injury breakdown, Dale Steyn says he is hoping to be up and running in the next six weeks after recovering from the muscle tear in his left heel which has ruled him out of the ongoing Test series against India.
“I’m on the crutches because I’ve got a no bearing weight on the leg for a while, at least two weeks, which makes it seem worse than it actually is,” Steyn told ‘Sony ESPN’, the official broadcaster of the series.
“But it’s right underneath the heel, so it’s extremely sore to stand on or step on. And as you know, as fast bowlers we land on that front foot pretty often. So I’m going to have to give it time to recover - six weeks, and I’ll be up and running again,” he said.
The 34-year-old was making a comeback from an injury-forced sabbatical but it was cut short.
Speaking of his injury, Steyn said he isn’t too bogged down and is hoping to be fit for the home series against Australia in March-April.
“Yeah, that (getting ready for the Australia series) is the plan. Next two weeks, nothing on my feet. Stay off my feet. After that, I’ll start walking around, and in about four weeks, I’ll start running and then look to start practicing again in six weeks.
“That’s a long time. I spent a whole year out, so when someone says to me six weeks, it doesn’t sound too bad,” he said with a laugh,” he said. Steyn said a shoulder injury would have been a bigger blow to him.
“But this is a cricket injury, it’s like a batter getting hit on the hand and breaking a finger. So I’m okay with that, just got to put it away and get on with the job,” he said.
OLIVIER, NGIDI IN
Johannesburg The fast bowling pair of Duanne Olivier and uncapped Lungi Ngidi have been added to the 14-member South Africa squad for the second Test against India, beginning January 13 in Centurion.
The duo has been included after Steyn was ruled out.
Olivier has appeared in five Tests -- all of them in 2017, Ngidi has played three T20Is since making his international debut in a match against Sri Lanka last year. Currently, both of them are playing in the domestic one-day cup.
Yeah, that (getting ready for the Australia series) is the plan. Next two weeks, nothing on my feet. Stay off my feet. DALE STEYN, on his rehab