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| De Villiers confident of Steyn's fitness for semi-final | | | The Oval: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn's participation in the Champions Trophy semi-final against England is in some doubt due to fitness concerns. The team management will take a late call on his inclusion on the morning of the match on Wednesday.
The fast bowler missed a day's training and did a lighter than usual load on subsequent days because of "stiffness in the groin area" according to team manager Mohammed Moosajee. However, South Africa captain, AB de Villiers, was confident of Steyn's inclusion in the playing XI on Wednesday.
"It looks like we've got a good chance [of playing him tomorrow]," de Villiers said. "He's taking another day off just to make sure we rest him really well. I said before that I don't believe we're lost without him. We can definitely beat England without him."
De Villiers conceded they are managing his workload as they have been playing a lot of cricket of late.
"He's got a few niggles around, which is very worrying, but we're going to do all we can to get him on the park tomorrow," he said. "He's close to 100%, he's running around.
We didn't want to run him too much today because we knew he's one of the best in the world and he's got the skill to just rock up and do the business. He's working on his rehab making sure we give him the best chance to play tomorrow."
Steyn was said to be struggling a little after their last league game against West Indies on Friday. Moosajee also confirmed that the new concern for Steyn's fitness is not related to the side strain which kept him out of the first two matches against India and Pakistan.
Steyn bowled six overs in a rain-affected match and finished with 2 for 33 from six overs in a tied game which secured South Africa's place in the semi-final from Group B along with India. He has been under the careful watch of physiotherapist Brandon Jackson as South Africa hope to do all they can to ensure he plays. |
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