“We are hopeful he will be ready some time during the home series”
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South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee has said that there is no date being specifically targeted for pace bowler Dale Steyn’s comeback.
Steyn has been out of action since injuring his shoulder in a Test match against Australia last November.
The 33-year-old, who underwent surgery, was expected to return during South Africa’s tour of England next week, but that will no longer be the case as he feels that he hasn’t sufficiently recovered.
Steyn pointed out that he is looking to be back on the field when South Africa face Bangladesh in September-October, but Moosajee insisted that nothing is confirmed as of yet.
“Dale’s surgery was a resounding success and the bone has healed,” Moosajee, who is also a doctor, said. “The challenge is to get the shoulder stabilised and strengthened, and that’s why there is a bit of delay with getting him on the park again.
“What the medical committee has decided is that we are not going to set an artificial deadline or timeline as to when he is going to be playing. We will wait for when he is ready. We are hopeful he will be ready some time during the home series.”
Meanwhile, Moosajee also made it clear that with the Proteas’ trip to England lasting 12 weeks, the team management will ensure all the players get adequate downtime in order to ensure they don’t burn out or succumb to injuries.
“Twelve weeks is unprecedented – we haven’t been on a tour that long,” Moosajee said. “Guys might come home for a week in between if time and space permits.”
South Africa Test and Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis is expected to return home at some point during the tour as he wants to be present for the birth of his first child.
“I would like to be there for the birth of my first child so hopefully the timing works well,” he said.
For ODI skipper AB de Villiers, who has ruled himself out of the majority of South Africa’s Test series this year, he and his wife are expecting their second child later on this year.
In regards to the upcoming Champions Trophy, South Africa have not allowed the players’ families to be with them during the tournament.
When asked about this, De Villiers said: “It’s a really good move not to have family members for this tournament. It’s a short tournament, only five games in total if we get to the final, so we are going to be focused on that.”