South Africa’s pace spearhead Dale Steyn has a hip strain and is doubtful for their second World Cup match against the Netherlands here Thursday.
Steyn strained his right hip during a practice session in New Delhi.
Coach Corrie van Zyl said Steyn will undergo a fitness test Wednesday evening and a decision on his inclusion will be taken before the match Thursday morning.
“The main fitness issue is with Dale and we hope he passes the test. The rest are available for selection,” said Van Zyl here Wednesday.
“There are a few fitness issues with Imran Tahir and Jean Paul Duminy but they should be fine by tomorrow,” Van Zyl added.
During the net session under overcast conditions at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium, Steyn practised alongside Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe. He started with a shorter-run up and then went all out towards the end.
Duminy has a stiff lower back while leg-spinner Tahir, who picked up four wickets on his ODI debut against West Indies in Delhi, is recovering from a respiratory tract infection but did some catching practice.
Van Zyl said he was working with the Pakistan-born leggie, who became eligible to play for South Africa only in January, on bowling in the right areas.
“We have already worked on him. He needs a few adjustments, but they would be sorted out soon,” he said.
Corrie refused to call his bowling line-up as balanced, saying it only gives him a lot of options. The pitch here has traditionally assisted fast bowlers, but Corrie declined to say what would be his bowling attack for the match.
“We will look at the conditions today and make the final decision on our bowling attack tomorrow. We have got a lot of options and it is something that we have not had in a long time. But I won’t say it is the most balanced attack ever,” he said.
South Africa have won all their matches against the Netherlands, but Corrie said the Proteas are not taking the Dutch lightly.
“It is important to win the game and keep the momentum going. It will be a mistake to underestimate the Dutch as they are a good team. Most of their bowlers bowl wicket-to-wicket. Pieter Seelar is a good spinner. They have an experienced batsman in Ryan ten Doeschate. So we are taking this match as any other ODI we play against any other team,” he said.