Dale Steyn Misses To Miss Out The Series:
Fast bowler Dale Steyn was a significant omission from a 24-man South African squad announced in Johannesburg on Friday, starting on November 27, for two white-ball series against England. Steyn, 37, retired from Test cricket in August 2019 as the all-time leading wicket-taker in the five-day format for South Africa, but said he remained available for international limited overs.
During the 2019/20 season, he played in two Twenty20 Internationals against England and one against Australia and was supposed to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled for Australia this year in October and November. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament was postponed.
A statement from Cricket South Africa announcing the squad made no reference to the absence of Steyn.
In the current Indian Premier League, Steyn is a member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad but played in only three of the league fixtures of the team , taking one wicket for 133 runs and conceding 11.40 runs an over.
The 24 players contain most of the existing limited overs of South Africa’s international players, with just one uncapped player in the team, fast bowler Glenton Stuurman.
Victor Mpitsang, the current selection convener, said that the squad was chosen for both types of white-ball cricket against England — three T20 internationals and three one-day internationals.
Both matches will be played in the Western Cape, Cape Town and Paarl, and the South African side, like the visitors from England, will be based in one hotel, and because of Covid, they will be restricted to the hotel and the cricket grounds. There will be no spectators permitted at the games.
“With the bio-secure climate, where movement in and out of the squad is restricted, we had to make sure we had 24 players covering all of our bases,” Mpitsang said.
“It also gives the team the chance to play some inter-squad games just to make sure they sharpen those white-ball abilities before the start of the series.” Graeme Smith, CSA director of cricket, said that a lot of work had been done to ensure the South African team’s return to international cricket for the first time since the Covid outbreak.
It’s been a long winter and it’s very fun that we finally have to look forward to an upcoming international tour on our shores, “Smith said.” This is a significant season for the squad, as the ICC T20 World Cup will be held in India late next year.
“In particular, I ‘m sure the T20 series will boast some explosive results for cricket fans to enjoy at home. An ODI series will always carry a degree of excitement of its own against the reigning world champions.”
South Africa Squad:
Quinton de Kock (captain), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Faf du Plessis, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Glenton Stuurman, Pite van Biljon, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne.
