Dale Steyn has suffered another shoulder injury.
Camera IconDale Steyn has suffered another shoulder injury. Credit: News Corp Australia

Cricket World Cup 2019: South Africa quick Dale Steyn battling shoulder injury

AP and AFPFOX SPORTS

Dale Steyn is leaving the Indian Premier League and returning home to South Africa for treatment after experiencing more problems with his right shoulder just a month before the Cricket World Cup.

Cricket South Africa says Steyn will be assessed by a specialist after a “flare- up.”

The fast bowler broke the shoulder in 2016 in a Test series in Australia and was out for more than a year.

Dale Steyn broke his shoulder in Australia in 2016.
Camera IconDale Steyn broke his shoulder in Australia in 2016. Credit: Getty Images

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South Africa team doctor Mohammed Moosajee says a recovery plan will be put in place for Steyn with the squad departing for the World Cup in England and Wales in three weeks. Moosajee says “it is our priority to get him back to full fitness before the squad departs.” South Africa plays host England in the opening game of the World Cup on May 30.

Steyn joined Bangalore last week as replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile in the Twenty20 tournament. He is in South Africa’s squad for the World Cup starting next month.

The 35-year-old missed Bangalore’s match against Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday with skipper Virat Kohli saying the speedster had a “shoulder niggle”.

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Dale Steyn took four wickets across two matches for RCB.
Camera IconDale Steyn took four wickets across two matches for RCB. Credit: AFP

Steyn took four wickets in his two games when Bangalore won both the matches to stay in the hunt for the play-offs.

He has represented the Proteas in 93 Tests and 125 one-day internationals since making his debut against England in 2004.

South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker with 439 scalps, he surpassed fellow countryman Shaun Pollock (421) in a match against Pakistan in December.

With an average of 25.95 and economy of 4.87 in ODIs, Steyn is expected to lead South Africa’s impressive pace battery including Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi in England and Wales.