Dale Steyn likely to be ruled out of Australia series

The South African pacer 'aggravated an old right shoulder injury' during the first Test against Australia.

Perth

: South Africa’s Australian sojourn could be in jeopardy after it was revealed that Dale Steyn may be ruled out of the remainder of the series.

The pace bowling spearhead injured his right shoulder on day two of the first Test at WACA in Perth on Friday. He was immediately rushed to the hospital with the Faf du Plessis-led side keeping their fingers crossed.

The incident took place in the first session of second day’s play when Steyn went down in pain after bowling a delivery to Usman Khawaja.

Steyn had by then dismissed dangerous David Warner after the Australian had smashed 97 runs and was looking set to power Australia to a big total.

Cricket South Africa said: “Steyn off the park, looks as though he has trouble with his shoulder.”

“He has aggravated an old right shoulder injury and is going to the hospital for further investigation,” added CSA.

If Steyn is sidelined from the series, this could be massive blow to South Africa who are already without their star cricketer AB de Villiers as he is recovering from a shoulder injury.

Additionally, South Africa’s aspiration to seal their third successive Test series win Down Under could be in limbo.

Steyn, one of the best pacers to have ever played the game, has 417 wickets in 85 Tests and just four wickets shorts of overhauling Shaun Pollock’s record of highest wicket taker for South Africa in the longer format of the game.

Dale Steyn was forced out of four-Test series against India after he sustained an injury during the first Test last year. The 33-yeard-old pacer had suffered a shoulder injury last December as he went surfing.