South Africa overcame the loss of star paceman Dale Steyn to another shoulder injury to produce a stunning comeback on the second day of the opening Test against Australia yesterday
South Africa’s Dale Steyn (left) walks off the field with the team physio after injuring his shoulder in Perth yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Perth: South Africa overcame the loss of star paceman Dale Steyn to another shoulder injury to produce a stunning comeback on the second day of the opening Test against Australia yesterday. In reply to South Africa’s 242, Australia were cruising at 158 for none early on Day Two, but then lost all 10 wickets for just 86 runs to lead by only two after the first innings.
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At stumps, the visitors were 104 for two, an overall lead of 102 and arguably in the favoured position in the match, which seemed unthinkable 24 hours earlier. Dean Elgar was on 46 and JP Duminy was on 34. The pair had added 59 after the Proteas lost two early second innings wickets, but their remarkable fightback was soured by news that Steyn would miss the remainder of the series.
Steyn left the field for scans on his troublesome right shoulder before lunch, just after claiming the wicket of Australian opener David Warner for 97, and did not return for the remainder of the innings. The 33-year-old hurt the same shoulder late last year, and it was confirmed late in the day he had a crack in a bone and would not take further part in the three-Test series. He faces surgery and is likely to be sidelined for at least six months. With 417 Test wickets, Steyn is just four shy of Shaun Pollock’s record haul for South Africa. In his absence, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and debutant spinner Keshav Maharaj exposed the home side’s batting frailty.
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