Ordinarily the return of a player of the ability of AB de Villiers would dominate the sporting headlines and have the fans chattering like canaries in excited anticipation.
But as South Africa gets ready to take on India in the first of three Tests between the top two ranked Test-playing nations, it is not the return of the prolific run-getter that is top of the agenda but rather questions over the immediate future of paceman Dale Steyn.
At 34, Steyn is arguably past his prime but is still considered among the best exponents of pure pace bowling in the game, even if he had hardly played over the last 12 months.
His participation, however, in the opening Test at Newlands is under a cloud as his shoulder injury remains a concern for South Africa, cautious about taking a risk on the veteran and his ability to get through five potentially strenuous days of Test against some of the top batsmen in the world.
As new South Africa coach Ottis Gibson insisted this week: “We are playing against the best team in the world and therefore we have to bring our A-game.”
That might not include Steyn, who had major surgery last December after breaking down in the first Test against Australia in Perth in November 2016. He literally broke his shoulder and suffered severe ligament damage and did not play again for 13 months.
Since his return, Steyn has had a few T20 scrimmages and 12 overs in a two-day warm-up day-night game against Zimbabwe just before Christmas.
But his planned return in the Boxing Day one-off Test against Zimbabwe did not happen because of a bout of flu on the morning of the opening day. He was left out in a stroke of bad luck, although just what quality rehabilitation Steyn might have got is questionable given South Africa needed less than five sessions to beat their overwhelmed neighbours by an innings and 120 runs.
Steyn insists he is fitter than most and intends playing for as long as he can but the selectors will only use him if the conditions on Friday morning determine South Africa go with four seamers and a spinner at Newlands, where the wicket, although initially green and spicy, is expected to dry out.
“I like to play cricket. I want to play cricket as long as I can. Age isn’t really a factor,” Steyn told reporters during the warm-up against the Zimbabweans.
“I don’t really worry about fitness. I am still fitter than the youngest guys in the side. I think most people at 34 start thinking about other things in life like retirement and family and those types of things. I am in a fortunate position that I don’t really need to think about that much right now. Cricket is my main focus.”
The dilemma over Steyn is made even more difficult by the fact he is tantalisingly close to breaking Shaun Pollock’s record as South Africa’s top Test wicket taker. He has been on the verge of the milestone for some time now.
Steyn has 417 wickets to Pollock’s 421 and the series against India offers him a chance to finally be officially recognised as the country’s best bowler.
If he does not get to play against Virat Kohli and company, then there is another series against Australia in March, with four home Tests. Sentiment is on the side of Steyn but there is also the practical realisation it might be best for the team if he return to the domestic first class arena and proves his fitness there.
There are no such quandaries over De Villiers.
The 33-year-old, who took time off from the Test arena to consolidate all his considerable and lucrative options in the limited overs formats, came back against Zimbabwe and quickly bashed out a half century – his 40th fifty in Test cricket – before donning the wicket keeper gloves when Quinton de Kock hurt his hamstring during the game. De Kock has since been passed fit, by the way.
De Villiers also had to step in as captain when Faf du Plessis went down with the same viral infection that KO’d Steyn.
But the skipper is also back for the India series, leaving De Villiers free of distractions and able to now concentrate on what he is best at – scoring runs.
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