Steyn injury blow boosts England for Oval opener

ENGLAND have been handed a pre-World Cup boost with news that Dale Steyn will be missing when they play South Africa in the tournament opener tomorrow. Steyn, one of the greatest of all fast bowlers, aggravated the shoulder injury that has plagued him during last month’s IPL and is said to be ‘not quite ready’ to face England at the Oval. The 35-year-old remains a key member of the South Africa squad and his absence will place an added burden on his strike partner Kagiso Rabada against England. ‘Dale is getting closer every day but he won’t quite be ready to face England,’ confirmed South Africa coach Ottis Gibson. ‘In a six-week tournament there’s no need to force the issue right now.’ Another veteran bowler who insists he is raring to go is England’s Liam Plunkett, the favourite to pip Mark Wood and Tom Curran to the last bowling slot on the opening day. ‘I feel as fit as ever,’ Plunkett told Sportsmail. ‘I’m in the best shape of my life.’ ‘I know myself inside out now. I find it harder to bowl as consistently fast as I used to but that can help me. ‘I try to bowl the same speed and sometimes it will come out late 80s and sometimes at 81 so I use that as my variation. If I don’t know what speed it will come out then neither will the batsmen!’ There is no doubt at what speed Jofra Archer can bowl — in excess of 90mph — but the new star of England’s attack insists he can get faster. ‘I would say there is a bit more to come,’ he said. Meanwhile, England stars who play in all three formats are set to earn more than £1million a year from their central contracts as of next season. The pay deal, agreed off the back of the ECB’s £1.1bn new broadcast deal, will come into effect in October and will see the salaries of players on dual red- and white-ball contracts increase from £650,000 to £925,000, plus match fees and bonuses.