Dale Steyn Returns to South Africa Test Squad For Sri Lanka Tour

The veteran South African seamer Dale Steyn makes his long-awaited return to the Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka scheduled for the month of July, this year.

Meanwhile, the 15-member squad also sees the return of Titans wrist spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi.

The left-arm spinner’s previous Test was the pink ball match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, way back in 2016. Moreover, the squad also introduced the uncapped Titans leg-spinner, Shaun von Berg.

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) National Selection Panel (NSC) convenor Linda Zondi admitted they are happy to have Steyn back.

“It is very welcome news to have Dale back in our pack of world-class seamers,” Zondi said in CSA’s release.

Pace gun Kagiso Rabada also returns to the squad after recovering fully from his recent injury.

“Particularly in view of the retirement of Morne Morkel.” “Kagiso Rabada has also made a complete recovery from the injury concerns he had at the end of the Australia Test Series,” he added.

“A key factor in our selection process was to cover all our bases and all possible conditions that we may encounter in Sri Lanka. The two additional spinners to back up Keshav Maharaj have both had excellent records in recent times in our domestic cricket. Von Berg also gives us additional batting strength in the lower order,” he mentioned.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen also makes his way to the Test squad for the first time. He comes from the back of strong performances in limited-overs fold.

“Heinrich Klaasen is the other uncapped player although he has been part of our squad for some time. He provides wicketkeeping cover for Quinton de Kock and is also a contender for a specialist batting position,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, this will mark a new era without their mainstay AB de Villiers, who announced his retirement last month.

South Africa will be keen to leave that behind and start with a bang in the longest format.

Test squad:

Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungisani Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Shaun von Berg.

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