Johannesburg - Faf du Plessis is expecting a fired up Dale Steyn to prove that he still belongs in the South African One-Day team when the Proteas start a five match ODI series against Australia in Centurion on Friday.
Steyn missed the triangular series in the Caribbean in June when South Africa faced the West Indies and Australia, with the selectors claiming he needed rest. Steyn refuted that, signed a deal to play county cricket and after the two Tests against New Zealand recently, hinted he was desperate to still play 50-over cricket.
“Dale’s personality is sometimes a bit cranky which is why you see that fire when he gets a wicket and we love him like that,” Du Plessis, who will captain South Africa in the absence of AB de Villiers, said at SuperSport Park on Thursday.
“At the start of the season ahead of the Tests (against New Zealand) he felt he needed to prove a point. When you are the no.1 bowler in the world and you don’t produce regularly people are going to ask questions and that comes with it’s own pressures. Now he’s back in the One-Day team and he will definitely try and make a huge impact and show everyone that one day cricket is still a huge part of his future.”
Steyn’s last ODI was against India in Mumbai last year and the sense - at least from the SA selectors - is that he will switch his focus more to the Test format. “Dale Steyn puts fear in the opposition...the name itself...there are few guys around the world that have that.
“They put that little bit of doubt in your head as the opposition because of the name. His skill and experience is not something you get overnight. If Dale is fit and fresh and bowling quick he’s an extremely big asset for our team.”
Du Plessis said he had an idea in his head about the make up of the starting team for Friday’s game, but would be meeting with the selectors Thursday night to make a final decision. “We’ve got a nice balanced squad so there’s a lot of options to choose from.”
The presence in the squad of all-rounders Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo, will help with the balance of the team said Du Plessis, and give him as captain, some crucial extra options.
“When you’re playing with a certain format of players it’s difficult to always go to different guys. As captain you limited in what your options are, your structures, game plans has to be according to a certain way.
But once there comes a sixth and seventh bowler into the team it’s great for a captain because then, if Dale is bowling well, he can bowl 6 or 7 overs up front and try and strike. Whereas in the past, you’d get 4 overs up front because if you push them for 5 you’re taking those overs at the end (of the innings) out of the game, where they are the experienced ‘death’ bowlers.”
Du Plessis said Hashim Amla, who returned to the squad after the birth of his third child but missed training on Thursda due to illness, was “99% certain,” to play.
Australia’s captain Steve Smith said opener Aaron Finch was available for selection after missing the match against Ireland on Tuesday with a finger injury.
Friday’s match starts at 1.30pm local time.
Teams
South Africa(from): Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Kyle Abbott, Tabraiz Shamsi, Aaron Phangiso.
Australia (from): Aaron Finch, Dave Warner, Steve Smith (capt), George Bailey, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Tremain, Dan Worrall, Matthew Wade, Joe Mennie, John Hastings, Scott Boland, Adam Zampa.
Independent Media