Dale Steyn replacement: Cricket South Africa have announced a replacement after the veteran South African fast bowler was ruled out of the tournament.
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Veteran South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Nursing a shoulder injury, Steyn had missed all games for his teams so far.
The illustrious bowler was expected to play a vital role for the Proteas. Battling with injuries from a long time now, Steyn had put in the hard yards especially to get going for the World Cup. The unfortunate development is a huge blow for the 35-year old cricketer at this point in time in his career.
Under the watchful eyes of coach Otis Gibson and other members of the support staff, South Africa’s injured pair of Steyn and Hashim Amla had practiced together at the Ageas Bowl yesterday. In what was potentially a fitness test for the duo, it seems as if Steyn didn’t return with the expected level during the same.
Steyn had last played an ODI during Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa earlier this year. Representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, Steyn played a couple of matches in the 12th season of the Indian Premier League before returning back to South Africa due to an injury.
Dale Steyn replacement
Cricket South Africa have announced left-arm fast bowler Beuran Hendricks as Steyn’s replacement for the World Cup. The 28-year old left-arm fast bowler has played a couple of ODIs and 10 T20Is for South Africa. Both his ODIs has come during the Pakistan series earlier this year.
Hendricks, who will add variety to South Africa’s bowling attack, has picked a lone wicket in ODIs. However, he has dismissed 16 batsmen at an average of 18.93 and a strike rate of 12.8 in his T20I career.
How Twitter reacted:
Breaking: Dale Steyn ruled out of #CWC19 owing to a second shoulder injury that has not responded to treatment. #SAvInd #IndvSA #IndvsSA
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) June 4, 2019
Ach! What a shame for South Africa and fans in general. Was really looking forward to seeing Dale Steyn in action. Shoulder injury has ended his #Cwc19 campaign.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) June 4, 2019
Ugh 😔 huge blow for South Africa. Hope he doesn’t hang up his boots just yet…. https://t.co/Y4lf9U0GWI
— Bibhash Chatterjee (@bibhash1990) June 4, 2019
Tough on Dale Steyn but Beuran Hendricks adds an extra dimension to the South African attack.
Left-arm seamers are historically the World Cup’s most successful bowlers, and perhaps this is what their XI needs to *cough cough* win their maiden World Cup. #ProteaFire #CWC19 https://t.co/i4hHKQ6q23
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) June 4, 2019
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