“We are treating it as shoulder stiffness”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn will not bowl for the remainder of the first Test against England in Durban after he continued to feel discomfort in his shoulder.

“Update on Dale Steyn: He’s still feeling discomfort this morning and will not bowl for the remainder of the innings,” Cricket South Africa said via Twitter.

Steyn strained his right shoulder on the third day of the first Test against England in Durban after bowling 3.2 overs in the second innings. He left the field afterwards, but returned to bowl three more balls before leaving once again in the 21st over.

Steyn was taken for a scan after that, but the scan came back inconclusive. However, it was confirmed that there was no tear in the muscles or ligaments in his shoulder.

Following the scan, Steyn went back on the field yet again and threw underarm and with his left arm for the remainder of the day.

“Dale first experienced discomfort in his right shoulder after day one, which was probably because of a long lay off and great deal of bowling load on the first day,” South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee said. “He woke up sore on the second day but got through first innings but then in second innings, the pain increasingly troublesome so he had to leave the field.

“The scan is inconclusive in that it showed no tears to muscles or ligaments so we are treating it as shoulder stiffness. If he gets through warm-ups, he will be allowed to bowl tomorrow and then we will take a call on his availability for the Cape Town Test after this match.”

Should Steyn not be fit for the second Test in Cape Town, which begins two days after the ongoing Test finishes, Kagiso Rabada is likely to replace him. However, the Proteas also have other options in the form of Hardus Viljoen and Marchant de Lange.