CAPE TOWN: Dale Steyn’s quest to become South Africa’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker has been put back until at least September after he ruled himself out of a Test series in England during July and August.
Steyn, who turns 34 on June 27, has been stuck on 417 Test wickets — four short of Shaun Pollock’s national record — since suffering a stress fracture of the shoulder during a Test against Australia last November.
The fast bowler had been included in a South Africa A squad to tour England in June in what was seen as a fitness test ahead of the four-match Test series.
But he told journalists in Johannesburg that his recovery has been slower than he hoped and will not be able to join the A team or to play in the Tests.
“I am able to do a lot of things — running, hiking, gym work. But bowling is not one of them,” he said.
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Steyn said he aims to play in two home Tests against Bangladesh in September and hopes to prove his fitness by returning to action when South Africa A play matches against Australia A and India A in August.
It has been a frustrating two years for Steyn, who has only played in five of South Africa’s most recent 16 Tests, breaking down in three of them, first with a groin strain and twice because of shoulder problems.
During that period he has taken only 15 wickets after looking set to soar past Pollock on the all-time list.
Vernon Philander, Steyn’s long-time new ball partner, has also had injury problems.
He has a contract with English county Sussex, but returned to South Africa last month for treatment on a groin injury.
But the county expect him to return to action in a championship match against Durham starting Sunday.
