Dale Steyn recalled to South Africa’s ODI team after two years

Dale Steyn recalled to South Africa’s ODI team: South African speedster recalled into the ODI side after two years.

South Africa’s premier fast bowler Dale Steyn has made his way back into the national side after a two-year haul. Steyn had last played an ODI for South Africa in October 2016 when South Africa had whitewashed Australia 5-0.

The series against Australia was his only ODI assignment in 2016. Before that, Steyn had taken part in ODIs during the tour of India in 2015.

In the 116 ODIs that Steyn has played for the Proteas, he has picked up 180 wickets at an average of 26.62, an economy rate of 4.94 and a strike rate of 32.3. In the last three years, regular injuries have interrupted the progress of the 35-year old right-arm fast bowler in ODI cricket.

Steyn has made his way back into the team which will face Zimbabwe later this month. Having expressed intentions of playing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, this seems to be a step in the right direction for Steyn.

Among the other changes in the squad, captain Faf du Plessis has also made his way back into the squad after picking up a shoulder injury. However, he will only play after passing the fitness Test.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir has been included into the 16-member team to accompany fellow spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. The South African selectors have also included an uncapped player in Christiaan Jonker, a middle-order batsman.

A couple of omissions which came as surprising to many people were of Quinton de Kock and David Miller, both of whom have been termed as rested for the series.

Full squad: Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Christiaan Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi , Dale Steyn, Khaya Zondo.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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