Managing Steyn is important

EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 21: Dale Steyn of South Africa bowls during the 3rd Momentum ODI between South Africa and West Indies at Buffalo Park on January 21, 2015 in East London, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 21: Dale Steyn of South Africa bowls during the 3rd Momentum ODI between South Africa and West Indies at Buffalo Park on January 21, 2015 in East London, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

Published May 14, 2015

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Dale Steyn’s enlightened interview with Wisden India wasn’t well received in many quarters.

Certainly not in Bangladesh, where his assertion that “playing three ODIs in Bangladesh does nothing for my confidence as opposed to knowing that I’m going to a World Cup,” didn’t go down well. By his own admission he could have chosen his words better, but he’s a fast bowler, not a politician.

It wouldn’t have been well received by some in Cricket SA either where it could be viewed as a sign of arrogance. Even some South African supporters would bristle – “who is Steyn to dictate when and where he should bowl for his country?” “He wants to play IPL and not for South Africa, well stuff him,” others may murmur.

However what does Steyn stand to gain from a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh? Test cricket has always been his priority and no-one, not a Bangladeshi supporter, not an administrator at Cricket SA nor any SA supporter could say Steyn hasn’t given every bit of his talent in the five-day format.

A lot of people have gained a great deal of joy from watching him in ‘whites’. South African cricket has achieved historic successes as a result. Cricket SA have made a lot of money from that talent too.

Steyn will be 32 in a month. In order to sustain his career, he needs to manage his playing (and practice) time better than when he was 22. A decade playing and performing at the highest level has taught Steyn how to manage his most important asset – his body, better.

There needs to be clarity with Cricket South Africa but especially with the national team’s management and coaching staff over how best to look after Steyn and Morné Morkel (and Vernon Philander for that matter).

If that means missing ODIs in Bangladesh then so be it. In fact it could even prove beneficial to CSA as it grants the opportunity to create some depth in the fast bowling ranks.

There is – for a change – quite a bit of Test cricket ahead for Steyn and the South African team in the next eight months. Ten Tests, four of which are scheduled for India, make for a heavy workload. The series against India and England are major events for a team that is ranked the best in Test cricket.

Steyn’s an important reason for that bejeweled mace’s presence in Cricket SA’s trophy cabinet at their Wanderers office.

Bangladesh may feel like they’ve been belittled, but they shouldn’t.

Steyn, as he said in that interview, has only a few thousand more deliveries left in him and in order for him to stay at the top of the fast bowling ladder, he will have to – having negotiated carefully with team management – pick and choose when to bowl them. – The Star

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