Steyn knew Archer was 'going to be great' after just two deliveries
South Africa paceman Dale Steyn says he knew almost instantly Jofra Archer would develop into a world-class fast bowler as he backed England to find a formula to get the best out of the 24-year-old.
Archer was set to return to England's ranks for the three Twenty20 internationals againstSouthAfricathisweek, thefirstofwhichisinEastLondon today, but he is absent because of a low grade stress fractureinhisrightelbow.The injury,whichmeanthemissed the last three Tests against the Proteas, led to scrutiny on his workload, with Archer bowling more overs than any of his England team-mates last year despite only making his debut last May.
"It's a pity about his elbow; that's fast bowling, you will get an injury every now and then," Steyn said. "He is still learning and has to bowl enough to get his body strong. But the most importantthingispeoplewant toseehimonthepark.Youhave to keep him on the park and they have to work out how to do that.
"Everyone is different and they have to work out something for him. He is fresh and new into the system and it will take the odd injury to work it out but they will get there."
Steyn revealed his friendship with the brother of former Sussex coach Mark Davis meanthesawArcherearlyinto his development.
"He is phenomenal, he is great,"Steynadded."Fastbowlingisnotaneasythingtodo.He makes it look so easy. A couple ofyearsago(Davis)toldmethat I had to watch this guy because he is amazing. I saw him bowl two balls in the county circuit and I said 'this guy is going to be great'. World Cup winner already - the rest is history."
Steynissettomakehisfirst international appearance in nearlyayearatBuffaloParkfollowing a longstanding shoulder problem that led to him missing last summer's World Cup.
Last year, he ended a Test career that saw him collect a South Africa record 439 wickets at an average of 22.95, numbers which place him among the all-time greats but he retains an appetite for the limited-overs formats.
Headmittedtinkeringwith his usual routine in South Africa's domestic T20 competitionatthebackendoflastyear, when he was the third leading wicket-taker,andplanstocontinue in that manner. "I decided to play a little bit more of a braver brand of cricket, I tried oneortwodifferentthingsthat I wouldn't necessarily do and I used that as a nice time to experiment," Steyn said.