New chapter for SA’s Steyn

The last time Dale Steyn (below) played ODI cricket for South Africa was October 2016 so the series against Zimbabwe that starts in Kimberley on Sunday is something of a rebirth for the great fast bowler who has had a nightmare run of injuries since then.

That series two years ago was the historic 5-0 whitewash of Australia, but it was not as wonderful a series for Steyn, who took just five wickets in four games and conceded 6.99 runs per over. The low point was the third ODI in Natal as Steyn was belted for 96 runs in his 10 overs, the most runs ever conceded by a South African bowler in an ODI.

“All I remember is that we won 5-0 and it’s a team game, so that definitely doesn’t weigh on me. It doesn’t matter at the World Cup if you’re the worst bowler, as long as you win the trophy and I want nothing more than for South Africa to win the World Cup.

“In the nets I’m practising my skills like yorkers and slower balls, but it really comes down to mindset in ODI cricket. There’s a chance you could end up going for eight to 10 an over, the days of having a 4.5 economy rate are gone, nobody’s taking three for 40 anymore because bowling in powerplays is very difficult,” Steyn said at the Wanderers yesterday, where the Proteas wrapped up their preparations before travelling to Kimberley today.

South Africa have three fine fast bowlers in their squad in Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, and two promising seam-bowling all-rounders in Andile Phehlukwayo and Wiaan Mulder, and the veteran is looking forward to playing with and mentoring this young talent.

“KG is phenomenal, in the last two years he has won awards I didn’t even know existed! And Lungi feeds off that. I would just ask people to remember that they are two very young men, doing their best. They are extremely talented, but they’ve only played a few games between them, we need to give them time to grow,” Steyn said.