Steyn will miss the third Test against England

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the third Test against England in Johannesburg due to a lingering shoulder injury.

Steyn suffered the injury during the first Test in Durban and was subsequently forced to miss the second Test in Cape Town.

Steyn was initially listed as “50-50” for the third Test, but the 32-year-old did not travel with the Proteas to Johannesburg as he stayed back in Cape Town to undergo further scans on his shoulder.

“They are doing more scans to try and find something there,” South Africa head coach Russell Domingo said. “They are trying to find what the problem is and once they’ve given us that diagnosis we will be able to give you more information.”

This will be the fifth Test Steyn has missed out of his last seven as he was sidelined for three of the four Tests during his side’s tour to India in November-December due to a groin injury.

Speaking about Steyn’s injury woes as of late, Domingo is confident that the team’s pace spearhead will bounce back and be back on the pitch in no time.

“I don’t think it’s the end of Dale Steyn,” he said. “All players will experience some sort of niggles. He is a great athlete. He is as fit as they can come. We know he is a great bowler. He is the best bowler in the world. We haven’t had him since the first Test in India tour and that has been disappointing.”