STEYN REVEALS COMEBACK PLAN WITH STINT AT HAMPSHIRE
JOHANNESBURG: South African fast bowler Dale Steyn revealed that he is targeting a stint with English county Hampshire in June as his comeback to competitive cricket. Steyn, 34, has seldom played in the past two years because of injuries. But he told SuperSport television that he was close to full fitness after missing the series against Australia following his latest setback, a heel injury suffered in the first Test against India in January. “I could get through 12 or 15 overs but that’s not enough to be competitive in a Test match,” he said. Steyn is just two short of Shaun Pollock’s South African Test record of 421 wickets. He is likely to have another chance to break the record when South Africa tour Sri Lanka in July and August. “The Proteas don’t play for quite a while,” said Steyn. “I’m going to take another month off. I’m not going to IPL. I’m looking to go over to Hampshire in June to play a little bit of cricket, then Sri Lanka in July.”
MOVE AFOOT?
“That may or may not happen in a board meeting in three weeks’ time that’s not to be aired on national television,” he said.
His comments came in the wake of outgoing Australia coach Darren Lehmann’s vow to “take a leaf” out of the playing style and conduct of teams such as New Zealand, who imposed a no-sledging policy in 2013 after their own crisis of confidence.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has also called for an end to sledging, saying on Tuesday that the “strongest action” needed to be taken as the verbal abuse had gotten “right out of control”.
ASHES MARRED
The recent Ashes series was likewise marred by sledging, with tensions between Smith and England bowler James Anderson leading umpire Aleem Dar to have to separate the pair when the Australian was batting.
Anderson described the Aussies as bullies who overstepped the line ahead of the Adelaide Test, with Smith retorting that the Englishman was one of the biggest sledgers in the game.