Lion-Hearted Dale Steyn Rubbishes Retirement Talks, Eyes World Twenty20 in India
Dale Steyn has had a troubled 2015, with injuries and loss of form affecting South Africa and there are speculations regarding his retirement.
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South Africa are in the midst of a slump. They have lost two consecutive Test series for the first time since 2006. They lost 3-0 to India, their worst defeat against them while they suffered a loss against England after 11 years. (Dale Steyn Ruled Out of Final Test Against England)
The South African dressing room is also coming to terms with AB de Villiers' statement there was a bit of truth about his retirement. Now, there are speculations over Dale Steyn's retirement. The injured speedster has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks.
In January, de Villiers admitted, "For two or three years, I've been searching for the right answers to play a little less cricket in one way or another, to keep myself fresh and enjoy the game. Every now and then, I find I am not enjoying myself as much as I should be. I've been talking to a few people and obviously that's leaked."
De Villiers' announcement has also placed the scanner on Steyn, South Africa's pace spearhead, who is suffering from poor form and a string of injuries.
2015, a year to forget for lion-hearted Steyn
Steyn, the bowler with a lion hear and super pace, has endured a terrible 2015, taking only 17 wickets in five Tests with no five-wicket hauls. If one takes out the seven wickets against West Indies at the start, in four Tests, he has taken only 10 wickets.
In addition, Steyn's injuries are a huge concern. He missed three out of the four Tests in India due to a groin injury and he missed three out of the four Tests against England due to a shoulder injury.
The emergence of Kagiso Rabada has also added to Steyn's uncertain future. Rabada was the stand-out bowler during the ODI series in India, taking 10 wickets in five games and winning the Man of the Series Award. His raw pace has been rewarded and in the current series against England, he has taken nine wickets, including 5/78 in the third Test at Johannesburg.
Steyn eyes World Twenty20 in India in March
In Centurion on Thursday, Steyn rubbished reports of his retirement.
"It's absolute rubbish. I played 48 Tests in-a-row, didn't miss a single one, and now suddenly I'm an injury liability at the age of 32? Injuries can happen to anybody but I'm still one of the fittest players in the squad and I have many, many overs left in me," Steyn stated.
With the ICC World Twenty20 just a couple of months away, Steyn reiterated his commitment to play in all three formats for South Africa but added that he will not be rushing back to international duty after he recovers from the shoulder injury sustained in the first Test in Durban.
"I'm not going to rush back from injury, like I did in India, and make it worse. I'm desperately keen to be fit and play in the T20 World Cup in India in March. It might be my last World Cup so I'd like to help win the bloody thing," Steyn said.