Not many thought it was possible. I too had given up hope. But Dale Steyn in back. And back to his best.
The South Africa pace legend played his first ODI in two years during the second match of the home series against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein on Wednesday. Zimbabwe? you say! Well, this Zimbabwe side reduced the Proteas to 58-4 in the first match and 101-7 for second.
South Africa haven’t had the easiest of times against such opposition on the difficult surfaces in Kimberley and Bloemfontein. They needed a big positive and the comeback of Steyn is the best news for South African fans in a long time.
With the Proteas staring down the barrel in the second match at seven for just over a 100, the returning Steyn used the long handle to hurt Zimbabwe with an 85-ball 60, hitting eight fours and one six. Runs next to his name meant Steyn was ready to unleash on a pitch that was borderline dangerous.
The 35-year-old hit top speed straightaway, clocking 145kph as he made life miserable for the Zimbabwe batsmen. His pace was right up in the 140kph range consistently and Zimbabwe could not cope.
After snaring the first two wickets, it was left to Imran Tahir to finish Zimbabwe off with a six-wicket haul, including a hat-trick. However, it was Steyn’s impact with the ball that left the biggest impression on the mind of Proteas skipper JP Duminy.
“The way Dale applied himself was exceptional and to see him bowling as quickly as he has is a really good sign for us,” he said.
Not just South Africa, the entire world was deprived of Steyn’s venomous bowling after struggling with a succession on injuries including to his shoulder, groin and heel over the last three seasons. Since 2016, Steyn has played three Tests and one ODI.
What has made things difficult for him is the emergence of young quicks Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi; the two youngsters also making up for the absence of veteran paceman Morne Morkel. With iconic batsman AB de Villiers also retired, it seemed seemed South Africa was ready to move beyond the Steyn chapter as well.
But Steyn isn’t done. He believes he has it in him to get one final effort out of his body and and leave it all on the field at the World Cup in England next year. After a productive county stint with Hampshire, Steyn has worked his way back to match fitness. The Proteas are a bit light when it comes to experience and a fully-fit Steyn would be like gold dust in English conditions.
Steyn has shown that the fire still burns bright in him. If he manages to keep his body intact, batsmen around the world are in for a torrid time.
