Published: Jun 04, 2019, 04:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 04, 2019, 04:48 PM (IST)
South Africa have suffered a massive blow with Dale Steyn ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2019 after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.
Steyn, South Africa’s fifth highest ODI wicket-taker of all time, withdrew from the Indian Premier League (IPL 2019) with the same issue and has already missed the first two games of his team’s campaign at the mega event.
The South African quick bowler had surgery for this problem in 2016 and has been plagued with issues with his shoulder before and since that procedure. He has had a recurrence of problem and will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
ALSO READ: Committed to South Africa’s cause, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn train hard at Ageas Bowl
South Africa have started this tournament with two losses, with defeats to England and Bangladesh in their opening fixtures. They will face India on Wednesday (June 5) at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. They will now be going into that important fixture, and the rest of this tournament, without Steyn.
BREAKING: Dale Steyn is out of #CWC19 after suffering a second shoulder injury which has not responded to treatment. Left-arm fast bowler @Beuran_H13 joins the squad ahead of tomorrow's crucial clash against India in Southampton.
More 👉 https://t.co/5nkzT2mgHq pic.twitter.com/W3eaiEJpvu
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 4, 2019
Steyn will be replaced in the South African squad by left arm quick Beuran Hendricks who made his ODI debut in January this year against Pakistan.
ALSO READ: It is not the end of the world, says Andile Phehlukwayo
Hendricks returns in ODI cricket have been limited so far, with just one wicket from two matches, but he has had more success in T20 Internationals where he has 16 wickets at an average of 18.93. Hendricks claimed a career best T20I haul in January, also against Pakistan, when he took 4/14 at Centurion.
Hendricks has the ability to bowl with real pace, reaching 140kph at times while also swinging the ball late. As a left armer he also offers some diversity to the South African attack.
(With inputs from ICC website)
