SA recall Steyn for England T20s

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have opted to extend the rest for Faf du Plessis, with Quinton de Kock, who has been leading the side in the One-Day Internationals, named captain for the Twenty20 Internationals against England as well.

The three-match T20I series, which starts on Wednesday, also sees the return of fast bowler Dale Steyn, after a long injury-enforced spell on the sidelines. Steyn, 36, last played for South Africa in any format back in March 2019. His World Cup was ended before it even began by a recurring shoulder injury, the latest in a series of setbacks.

The veteran took the call to retire from Tests to extend his limited-overs career, and made clear his desire to play in this year’s ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. Strong performances in the Mzansi Super League, where he took 15 wickets at 15.13, and in the Big Bash League, where he claimed five wickets in four matches for Melbourne Stars, allayed concerns of both fitness and form, and he finds himself back in the set-up.

Squad: Quinton de Kock (captain, wicketkeeper), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen.