Dale Steyn’s shoulder issues continue. Whether it is a chronic issue or a sign of his age and workload will become clear in the coming days.
But either way the test series in Australia is the poorer for his absence. The Aussie fans will have wanted to see him and the players would have wanted to test themselves against the leading bowler of the past decade. South Africa’s best bowler will share the fate of South Africa’s best batsman and have to watch the rest of the action from the sidelines.
That his sole contribution to the series was the massive wicket of Warner says something. If the Proteas batsmen can build on the recovery and bat through day three they may end up in a position to push for victory in Perth. A victory would have seemed unlikely at 80-odd for 5 on the first day.
The likely rub is that Morne Morkel will come into the side for the second test. Arguably he should have played at the WACA, but Vernon Philander is working hard hard to show he still has what it takes to justify taking the new ball and you simply can’t leave the explosive Rabada out.
I don’t, however, buy the line that the South Africans are going to ‘win the series for Dale’. He will be missed, even if he is not currently at the peak of his powers. Class is permanent and you always have the feeling that Steyn can make something happen.
Let’s hope that Morne Morkel’s time on the sidelines has made him focused and we see some aggression from. I fear a little for the lack of a talisman in the attack however. The next time David Warner is sitting on 85 from 90 balls who will be putting their hand up to bowl.
This series is already shaping up to be exciting and could go either way. Dale Steyn may yet have a significant impact on the result. Although this time it may be due to his unfortunate absence.
Balls on the line 